Man Was Driving 103 MPH In Fatal Route 70 Crash, Prosecutor Says

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Brick Township man was driving 103 mph in the wrong lane for nearly 2 miles before a fiery Route 70 crash that killed a Manchester man in March, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Brian Baldari, 47, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and assault by auto in the March 7 crash that killed Edwin Borja, 66, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Baldari was driving a Cadillac CT5 Blackwing west in the eastbound lane of Route 70 when he hit a Mazda CX5 driven by Borja head on about 5:50 a.m. near Airport Road, authorities said.

Baldari then hit six more vehicles before his Cadillac came to a stop and caught fire with Baldari trapped inside, authorities said. He was extricated from the vehicle and flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, and then later transferred to Weill Cornell Medicine Burn Center in New York City, where he was treated and ultimately released, the prosecutor's office said.

Borja was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center as well, but succumbed to his injuries on March 18, the prosecutor's office said.

The driver of another vehicle in the crash was injured and taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, where he was treated and subsequently released. The drivers of the remaining vehicles involved in the crash were uninjured, the prosecutor's office said.

Billhimer said the continuing investigation found Baldari was driving about 103 mph in the incorrect lane of travel for about 2 miles before the crash.

"As such, Baldari was charged accordingly as set forth above, and he surrendered himself to Lakewood Township Police Headquarters," he said.

Baldari is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.