Vineland man indicted in crash that killed high school senior

A Vineland man has been indicted a crash that killed a high school senior in April.

Philip Cox, 54, was allegedly under the influence when he struck 18-year-old bicyclist Daniel Diaz at about 8:40 p.m. April 29.

Cox was heading west on West Park Avenue in the inside lane of travel when he struck Diaz, who was also traveling west in the same lane, according to police.

Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bicycling was what Diaz loved most, according to his obituary. He was preparing to graduate Vineland High School this year.

Cox was charged with death by auto, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving in September. A grand jury recently indicted him.

He is not jailed.

It’s not clear whether Cox had a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash.

Less than two months before Diaz was killed, Cox was charged with driving an unregistered vehicle on an expired license, court records show.

This also was not Cox’s first DUI. In October 2014, he was charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving. No one was injured in that incident, according to the charges. Just more than two months before that charge, Cox was charged with driving on a suspended license.