26-Year-Old Elizabeth Man Charged For Killing His Friend In October 2023 Sayreville Car Crash
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 6:00 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
SAYREVILLE, NJ.- Following an investigation into an October 2023 Sayreville, New Jersey fatal motor vehicle crash, a 26-year-old Elizabeth, New Jersey man was taken into custody on Thursday and formally charged with killing his friend and seriously injuring another friend.
According to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, the investigation began when on October 28, 2024, at 5:00 a.m., members of the Sayreville Police Department responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle crash on Route 35 South in Sayreville.
Upon arrival, Police Officers found a 2009 Acura TL that had rolled over and onto two parked motor vehicles in the vicinity of Fred's Bait and Tackle Shop. Inside the vehicle, Police Officers discovered that the rear passenger Zion Jackson, 24, of Keansburg, New Jersey had succumbed to serious injuries and was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver, Brandon Witkowski, 26, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the front-seat passenger were immediately transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for serious injuries. There were no occupants inside the parked vehicles at the time of the crash.
The subsequent investigation by Officer Thomas Calise of the Sayreville Police Department and Detective James Alleva of the Middlesex County Prosector's Office determined that the Acura TL was traveling Southbound on Route 35 in Sayreville when the car veered off the roadway striking a safety bollard for a fire hydrant causing it to roll over and and come to rest onto two parked vehicle.
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the investigation concluded with Mr. Witkowski being taken into custody and charged with Second Degree Vehicular Homicide; Third Degree Aggravated Assault; First Degree Aggravated Manslaughter; and Fourth Degree Assault by Auto.
Following being processed on the charges, Witkowski was remanded to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending future court proceedings in Middlesex County Superior Court. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office has filed a pretrial detention motion to have Witkowski detained pending trial.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Calise of the Sayreville Police Department at (732) 727-4444 or Detective Alleva of The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-4011.
"The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
FILED UNDER: APRIL 20, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, MIDDLESEX: