A resident of the Whiting section of Manchester Township has been sentenced to seven years in state prison on charges that arose from a deadly motor vehicle accident that occurred in Jackson.
State Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl, sitting in Toms River, sentenced Jean Paul Forde, 31, to seven years in prison following Forde’s conviction on charges of death by auto (vehicular homicide) and assault by auto, according to a spokesperson from the Criminal Division of the Superior Court.
The sentencing took place on April 21.
On May 30, 2010, Forde’s 1994 Honda Accord crashed into a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by Colleen Guierro, 39, of Manchester, on South Hope Chapel Road in Jackson.
Police alleged at the time that Forde was under the influence of alcohol and driving at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Guierro’s vehicle. Guierro was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Her daughter, who was a minor and was a passenger in the Cobalt, survived her injuries.
On July 29, Forde was arrested at Jackson police headquarters where he was charged by Police Officer Trevor Crowley with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane. The charges followed Crowley’s investigation into the crash.
Guierro’s sister, Marnie Dorian, wrote in an email to Greater Media Newspapers that her sister “was a well-loved Manchester Pop Warner cheerleading coach. Colleen gave of herself to her community and was respected and loved by many.”
Forde will be required to serve 85 percent of his prison sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.