5 People Charged In Middlesex Co. Multi-Vehicle Crash That Killed Princeton Woman

PLAINSBORO, NJ – Five people have been charged in connection with a 2024 New Year's Day fatal crash that killed a 25-year-old Princeton woman, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda said.

The crash took place in Plainsboro around 1:56 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024. Emergency responders from Plainsboro, West Windsor, and surrounding communities arrived to find a complex crash scene involving six vehicles.

According to the investigation led by Corporal Justin Kowalczyk and Detective James Alleva of the Fatal Crash Investigation Unit, the sequence began when Cianni Hall, 24, of Delran, struck a Ford Fusion driven by Louisa Bradlow Carman, 25, of Princeton. The impact left Carman's vehicle disabled in a travel lane with her 27-year-old male passenger inside.

Six minutes later, Adriana Vega, 27, of Trenton, driving a Chevrolet Impala, struck the disabled Ford Fusion. Carman was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in critical condition, where she later died from her injuries, Ciccone said.

A separate collision involved Kartika Shorter, 44, of Trenton, in a Chevrolet Malibu and a Volkswagen Tiguan carrying a 48-year-old male driver, 43-year-old female passenger, and two juveniles. A Good Samaritan vehicle that had stopped to assist was also struck during the incident.

The investigation revealed that both Shorter and Hall were operating under the influence at the time of the crashes and were initially charged with DUI. Vega fled the scene following the collision and was arrested on Thursday.

Vega was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

Shorter was charged with four counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of third-degree endangering another person.

Glover was charged with fourth-degree hindering, third degree attempted escape and fourth-degree obstruction.

Hall was charged with third degree endangering another person.

Zyira Dixon, 25, of Trenton, was charged with third-degree attempted escape, and fourth-degree obstruction.

The investigation involved assistance from the New Jersey State Police DNA and Trace Evidence Laboratory, along with police departments from North Brunswick, Trenton, and West Windsor, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Authorities are seeking anyone with information or surveillance footage to contact Corporal Kowalczyk at 609-799-2333 or Detective Alleva at 732-745-4011.

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