Truck Driver On Cell Phone That Caused Fatal Morris Co. Crash Jailed

MORRISTOWN, NJ - A 45-year-old Newark man was sentenced to four years in prison Friday after plowing a garbage truck into a car parked at a red light, killing the driver.

Angel Caraballo-Maldona was on his cell phone the morning of the May 8 crash, where the garbage truck he was driving hit a 2020 Chevy Traverse at the intersection of Route 23 North and Alexander Avenue in Pequannock Township, authorities said.

The Traverse was stopped at a red light when it was struck from behind by the garbage truck and as a result, the Traverse caught fire. The unconscious Traverse driver was pulled from the vehicle by the garbage truck driver and a bystander, but the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

Video surveillance revealed Caraballo-Maldona was utilizing his cell phone at the time of the crash, and he was subsequently charged with second degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide.

Judge Ralph E. Amirata imposed a sentence of four years in New Jersey State Prison subject to 85 percent parole ineligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act.

Caraballo-Maldona had previously entered a guilty plea to second degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide before Amirata on Aug. 29.