UK Man Tripled Speed Limit Fleeing Police In Deadly West Deptford Crash: Prosecutor

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — A man nearly was driving nearly triple the speed limit while fleeing police during a crash that killed another man earlier this month in West Deptford, authorities said Friday.

George Linard, a United Kingdom resident, has been facing charges in the Nov. 9 crash, which killed an Uber driver and seriously injured several others in West Deptford. Linard, 24, was fleeing police during the crash and later gave law enforcement a fraudulent ID with a fake name, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

He has been in custody since Nov. 10.

Linard's charges were upgraded Wednesday to include aggravated manslaughter and eluding.

That same day, authorities identified the deceased victim as Jose M. Martinez (also known as Jose M. Martinez-Peguero), 42, of Lindenwold.

Linard is facing two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter: one for recklessly causing death and one for causing death while fleeing police.

On Thursday, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office laid out new findings that led to the manslaughter charges.

At around 5:36 p.m. Nov. 9, West Deptford police were called to PS Gas and Food Mart for a report of two intoxicated men — one of whom was later identified as Linard — prosecutors said.

Further investigation revealed that an officer tried to stop Linard before he drove away from the gas station, prosecutors said. Dash camera footage showed an officer activated their emergency lights in the gas station parking lot. The officer then exited his marked police vehicle and approached Linard's car on foot, signaling for him to stop, authorities said.

The fatal crash occurred down the road only 25 seconds later, prosecutors said.

In that time, Linard exited onto Hessian Avenue and drove toward Red Bank Avenue. He rapidly accelerated away from officers on Hessian Avenue, crossed onto the wrong side of the road to pass another vehicle, ran a red light, and struck another car at Hessian and Red Bank avenues, prosecutors said.

Vehicle data showed Linard floored it for 5 seconds before the crash, reaching 86 mph at the point of impact, authorities said. The speed limit was 30.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, and his rear-seat passenger fractured her leg. Linard's passenger dislocated his hip, while Linard also sustained serious injuries, officials said.

The mother of the victim who broke her leg said the deceased driver was working for Uber.

Uber hopes to help investigators, a company spokesperson told Patch.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic crash and our hearts go out to the driver’s family and loved ones," the spokesperson said via email. "We are keeping them, and the injured rider, in our thoughts and stand ready to support police in their investigation in any way we can."

Linard first presented ID with the name "Steve Hall," 28. But on Nov. 12, prosecutors said they confirmed he is actually George Linard, 24, and he is wanted on a warrant for money laundering, drug possession, and having a fake ID in Bergen County.

Federal authorities claim George Linard is another alias, and his real name is Steve Peker. Jail and state records continue to identify him as Linard.

In the days after the crash, Linard was charged with second-degree death by auto, two counts, fourth-degree possession of a fraudulent government license, and two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto.

On Wednesday, he was charged with eluding and two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter.

Linard is detained at the Salem County Correctional Facility, which provides jailing services for Gloucester County.

The state Attorney General's Office is also investigating the incident, since it involves an encounter with law enforcement.

Linard's attorney, Harley D. Breite, called the incident a "tragic situation" in a phone call with Patch last week.

"When all of the facts, including the police officers' responsibility, come to light, we will be in a better position for an honest and clear evaluation," Breite told Patch.