Manslaughter, Death-By-Auto Charges For Drunk Driver In Fatal Rt. 15 Crash: Prosecutor

SPARTA, N.J. – The woman accused of drunk driving on Rt. 15 in Sparta Township last December and killing another driver has been indicted on first-degree manslaughter and second-degree death by auto charges, the Sussex County Prosecutor announced.

On Dec. 8, 2015, Sparta Cpl. Adam Carbery was traveling south on Route 15 when he saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling the wrong way northbound in his lane of travel, police said.

See related: Morris County Man, 22, Killed In Crash; Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide

Carbery took evasive action to avoid a crash and immediately turned around to follow the Jeep, which continued traveling the wrong way. Before police could stop the car, it struck a 1998 Toyota Corolla head-on.

See related: Man, 22, Killed By Drunk Driver Remembered Lovingly As ‘Bear’

The driver of the Jeep was identified as Teresa Verbout, 56, of Sparta. The driver of the Corolla was identified as Robert Hunter III, age 22 of Flanders. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

See related: Bail Drops $100K For Alleged Drunken Driver In Fatal Rt. 15 Crash

At the time Verbout was charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular homicide. The indictment charges Verbout with having a breathalyzer reading above 0.08 legal limit.

Verbout will be arraigned within two weeks.

Pictured: Robert Hunter, who was killed in the Route 15 crash in Sparta Township on Dec. 8, 2015.