Crash Killed Essex County Grandmother, NJ Man Sentenced

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey man was recently sentenced to four years in prison in connection with a fatal car crash that killed a grandmother from Caldwell.

The two-vehicle crash took place in January 2023 near 101 Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland. Read More: Essex County Woman Dies In Car Crash

One of the drivers, Christine Perrella, was taken to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where she died from her injuries. Perrella, a 70-year-old Caldwell resident, was described in her obituary as a “loyal and caring person” whose laughter always filled the room.

“Nothing was more important to her than her family and friends,” her obituary states. “She most especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.”

The other driver, Alexander F. Eiden, of Essex Fells, was charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He was allegedly driving 103 mph at the time of the crash, according to court records.

Eiden, who was 23 when the crash took place, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide on March 24.

Eiden was sentenced on May 19 to four years in prison pursuant to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Three years post release parole supervision is also part of the sentence, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Eiden spoke about the crash before the judge’s verdict was announced, saying that he “made a stupid mistake” that led to the death of a “wonderful woman,” The Progress reported.

“I am so sorry for everything, from the day of to every day since,” Eiden said. “I'm fully responsible for my horrible actions.”

Family members of the deceased woman also spoke prior to the verdict, according to The Progress. They included her son, Stephen Perrella, who accused Eiden of speeding in the past, and said that he has filed a civil lawsuit against Eiden and his father.

“She would drop everything to take care of our kids when they were sick, she went to first haircuts … first zoo trips … you name it,” Perrella said of his late mother, accusing Eiden of lacking remorse about the fatal crash.

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