Driver In Crash That Killed Freehold Dad, Injured Family Is Sentenced

FREEHOLD, NJ — A man who was fleeing Marlboro police last year when he crashed into another vehicle on Route 9, killing a Freehold man and injuring his family, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Samuel Villar, 21, of Somerset pleaded guilty on June 14 to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, four counts of aggravated assault, and eluding, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

He was sentenced on Dec. 4 by Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Buck, Middlesex County, and must serve 85 percent of his 12-year sentence before being eligible for parole.

The fatal crash happened on Nov. 9, 2022 in Old Bridge and claimed the life of Arturo Tlapa Luna, 33, of Freehold.

At approximately 2:14 a.m. on that date, Marlboro police were pursuing Villar as he sped away from them. He and the other teenage boy in the car were wanted for questioning in an attempted car theft that had just occurred in Marlboro.

The car chase headed north up Route 9 into Old Bridge. Near the intersection of Spring Valley Road, police say Villar ran multiple red lights and collided with multiple vehicles.

Luna was driving home with his wife Maria, their two children and his father early that morning. His car was hit by Villar's car and the impact of the crash killed Luna. Members of his family were seriously injured.

Luna worked at the Pizza & Pasta Factory in Marlboro, and his death left fellow employees and customers grief-stricken, his employer, Antonio Romeo DiSantillo, said at the time.

"Arturo was a kind, generous, and loyal husband, father, brother, son, coworker, and friend. He was so loved and deeply respected by his community. We have lost an amazing human being," he said.

For Villar, once he is released from prison, he will be on parole supervision for five years and his driver's license will be suspended for two years.

Prior Patch reporting on this story: Audio, Video Released In Update Of Fatal Marlboro Police Chase Probe