Driver In Triple-Fatal Rt. 80 Crash Pleads Not Guilty

Morristown, N.J. – Despite a 13-count indictment charging Bhavuk Uppal with vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter, the Mountain Lakes man pleaded not guilty and turned down a 36-year prison term after a crash that killed a family of three on July 11, 2015.

Uppal, now 24, entered the not guilty plea Tuesday in Superior Court in Morristown and remains held in Morris County Jail on $750,000 bail, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

He was offered 36 years in prison with parole eligibility after serving 85-percent of the term by the prosecution in exchange for pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated manslaughter.

On July 11, 2015, an investigation revealed Uppal crashed into a Kia sedan with his Cadillac Escalade near mile-marker 34.7 on Route 80 westbound, Sgt. Jeff Flynn said. As a result, the Kia then crashed into a Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of it, which had two occupants, Flynn said.

The chain reaction resulted in the Kia, which had a man, pregnant woman, and baby, to become fully engulfed in flames, Flynn said. All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene at 4 a.m.

See related: 13-Count Indictment For Driver In Rt. 80 Triple-Fatal Crash

The occupants of the Jeep, K. Santiago-Madera, 26, and Brandon Green, 32, both of the Bronx, were taken to Morristown Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The three people in the Kia were identified as Edward Russell Hitt, 24; Briana Mae Anderson, 21; and Charlotte Reagan Hitt, 18 months old.

Uppal, whose vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned in a grass embankment, was also taken to Morristown Medical Center where he was treated and later released, Flynn said.

See related: 19 Tickets, 12 Suspensions In 2 Years For Alleged Drunk Driver In Triple-Fatal Crash

Uppal was taken to the Netcong Station where he was charged with three counts of death by auto, two counts of assault by auto, causing death or injury while driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while intoxicated.

See related: Woman Killed in Rt. 80 Crash Was Pregnant, Alleged Drunk Driver Arrested 6 Times

At the time of the fatal crash, Uppal was on indefinite suspension, having lost his license 12 times.

A status hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9.