Man Charged With Death By Auto, DWI In Wayne Gas Station Crash

WAYNE, NJ — The intoxicated driver who killed three people after crashing into a Route 23 gas station Tuesday morning was charged with three counts of death by auto and aggravated manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced.

Jason Vanderee, 29, of Glenwood, was also charged with several drug-related offenses, including possession of hypodermic needles, Valdes said in a press release.

A preliminary investigation by authorities revealed in the Tuesday crash that Vanderee was "driving at an excessive speed at the time of the crash," Valdes said. (See related: Driver Was Intoxicated In Wayne Triple Fatal Crash: Prosecutor)

A NorthJersey.com report stated that Vanderee was under the influence of opiates when he crashed the car. It also stated that Vanderee was convicted of driving under the influence of drugs in November 2016.

Victims Jon Warbeck, 50, of Fair Lawn and his 17-year-old son of Lincoln Park were inside a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro when the crash occurred, Valdes said.

Warbeck's son, Luke, was a senior at Boonton High School, Lincoln Park Mayor David Runfeldt confirmed.

A gas station attendant, Lovedeep Fatra, 22, of Pequannock, was also killed in the crash, Valdes said.

Vanderee was overdosing on opioids at the time of the incident, PIX11 reported. NBC 4 New York reported that authorities administered Narcan to Vanderee at the scene. He suffered only minor injuries, PIX11 reported. He was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson for treatment.

The crash occurred at about 8:46 a.m. when Vanderee smashed into the vehicles. The accident happened at the Delta gas station near the Wayne Mazda dealership, Valdes previously said.

A 2004 Honda Pilot, 2011 Nissan Rogue, a 2016 ford Transit T-250 van, and the Camaro were involved in the crash. The drivers of the Ford Transit van and Nissan Rogue were treated for minor injuries.

Vanderee is scheduled to appear in Passaic County Central Judicial Processing Court Wednesday afternoon. The state will file a motion for pretrial detention to be heard by a Superior Court judge, Valdes said.

Wayne Mayor Chris Vergano said it was "a very sad day in Wayne as three innocent people lost their lives in a horrific accident this morning. Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers."

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office asks anyone with additional information about the crash to contact their tips line at 1-877-370-7276 or tips@passaiccountynj.org or the Wayne Police Department Traffic Division at 973-694-0600.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Jason Vanderee, 29, of Glenwood (Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)