Charges Filed in Connection to Fatal May 31 Crash in Roxbury

Published on June 24, 2024

Morris County Acting Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone announce that Gerald Veneziano, 41, of Belleville, has been charged with Reckless Vehicular Homicide in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on May 31, 2024, in Roxbury.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 31, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles on Howard Boulevard in Roxbury. Investigation revealed that a northbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado collided with a southbound 2019 Mazda 3.

The driver of the Mazda, Jacob Davis, 19, of Flanders, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Silverado was identified as Gerald Veneziano.  He was extricated from the Silverado and transported to Morristown Medical Center with serious internal injuries. Numerous open alcohol containers were found in the vicinity of the Silverado.  Subsequent investigation revealed the Silverado was traveling at approximately 90 miles per hour at the time of the collision.

As a result of the investigation, Veneziano was subsequently charged on June 21 with one count of second degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a. He has also been charged with a number of motor vehicle offenses. In accordance with state law, the defendant’s arrest photograph will not be released.

Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Veneziano has been released from the Morris County Correctional Facility on a series of non-monetary bail conditions including surrender of his driver’s license and submission to alcohol testing.  The next scheduled court appearance is a Pre-Indictment Conference on July 29, 2024, before the Hon. Judge Claudia R. Jones, J.S.C.

The investigation was conducted by the Roxbury Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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