A Vineland man is accused of causing a fatal crash in Hamilton Township while allegedly driving intoxicated on a suspended license.
A longtime member of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office support staff was killed in the crash, Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
Eduardo Ibanez-Sanchez was driving his 2012 Volkswagen Golf east on Harding Highway just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, when he rear-ended a 2020 Kia Forte driven by Little Jeffrey Grier, forcing the car into oncoming traffic, Tyner said.
Grier's car was stuck on the passenger side by a 2012 International Truck. Grier, 56, of Mays Landing, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"We were incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and colleague, Jeff Grier," Tyner said. "Jeff was undoubtedly one of the kindest, most selfless people I have ever encountered.
"While members of our agency are trained to respond to tragic events in the normal course of their duties, it is never 'normal' when you respond to an incident where a colleague or family member has sustained fatal injuries," he continued. "We join Jeff’s family and friends in the mourning of his loss.”
Ibanez-Sanchez, 34, was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he consented to give samples of his blood for toxicology analysis, Tyner said.
Because Grier worked at the Prosecutor's Office, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office was contacted to assist with the investigation and charging decisions, Tyner said.
Ibanez-Sanchez was charged with being involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash while operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle during a period of license suspension for violation of driving while intoxicated.
He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.The truck driver, 51-year-old Amed Feliciano of Hammonton, was not injured in the crash.
This crash is part of a joint investigation by the Township of Hamilton Police Department along with the Atlantic County and Cape May County prosecutors' offices.
Note: The Atlantic County Justice Facility no longer provides mugshots to the media, citing the Atlantic County prosecutor’s order. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office says it’s part of the Attorney General’s Guidelines. There is no such guideline, according to the Attorney General’s Office, but they have told these offices for years that they should not release any photos that appear to be mugshots.
