Two others injured when car crashed into tree
By:Roger Alvarado
Fifteen-year-old Jacqueline Sadowski, of Manville, died of multiple blunt force trauma and internal injuries in Franklin Township Thursday after the
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage she was riding in veered off the road, went over a curb and struck a tree.
The collision occurred at approximately 5:56 a.m., after the vehicle, driven by Hillsborough resident Joseph Garcia, 18, which had been traveling
west on Hamilton Road in Franklin veered to the right off the road, continued west and went up and over a curb into an empty lot where it struck a tree, authorities said.
Ms. Sadowski, seated behind Mr. Garcia, was killed by the collision, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said Friday.
Mr. Garcia along with Christian Robinson, 21, of Lopatcong, who was seated in the front passenger seat and two Manville girls, Amanda Erikson, 15, of Driscoll Street and Natalia Karpiy, 16, of North 8th Avenue were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick to be treated for
injuries.
Mr. Robinson sustained back and facial injuries; Ms. Karpiy, who had been seated in the rear seat center sustained multiple fractures to her arms and
legs; and Ms. Erikson, who was seated in the right rear passenger side sustained internal injuries, authorities said.
Mr. Garcia sustained minor injuries, authorities said.
"No criminal charges have been filed at this time," Mr. Forrest said. "The matter remains under investigation."
According to Mr. Forrest’s office, Mr. Garcia and Mr. Robinson are believed to have arrived at a party in either Franklin Township or New Brunswick, and while at the party, met the three Manville juveniles.
"We believe they knew one another previous to meeting at the party," Mr. Forrest said.
The five individuals then left the party together in Mr. Garcia’s vehicle and proceeded westbound on Hamilton Street toward the Hillsborough/Manville
area.
Tests to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident are pending, Mr. Forrest said.
In addition to Franklin Township Police, the East Millstone Rescue Squad, Rutgers BLS, Rural Metro EMS and the Somerset Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit responded to the scene.
The prosecutor’s office’s Collision Analysis Reconstruction team and Franklin Township Traffic Unit are investigating the accident.
Anyone with information can contact the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office C.A.R. Team at 575-3300 or the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Stoppers TIPS Line at (888) 577-8477.