By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
An undisclosed teen motorist allegedly was on her cell phone during the hit-and-run accident that killed Robbinsville Superintendent of Schools Steven J. Mayer in April, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday in announcing criminal charges against her.
The decision to charge the driver — a then-17-year-old student at Robbinsville High School — came at the end of a criminal investigation into the accident on April 19 on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road. Her name has not been disclosed because she was a minor at the time, even though she has since turned 18.
Authorities have said Mr. Mayer, 52, was out jogging with his dog at 6:12 a.m. when she allegedly hit him and the dog and kept driving, only to call 911 later. The Prosecutor’s Office said she was driving “in a reckless manner” by talking on the phone “at or about the time of impact” and left the crash scene.
She was charged with second-degree death by auto, second-degree leaving the scene of a car accident that resulted in a death and with motor vehicle citations, the Prosecutor’s Office said.
At the moment, her case is being treated as a juvenile matter, with her having to appear in Family Court. Authorities could seek to “waive” her up to adult court where she would face stiffer penalties. Second-degree offenses carry up to 10 years in state prison and a so-called “presumption” of incarceration.
The Prosecutor’s Office on Friday did not respond to questions about the case, including whether it would seek to try her as an adult. But that appears where authorities are headed, said a legal expert.
Princeton defense lawyer Mark H. Jaffee, a former Union County prosecutor who handled juvenile cases, said Friday that based on the charges against her, he thought the Prosecutor’s Office wants to have the case heard in adult court. He said he reached that view for three reasons: the seriousness of the offense, that she was close to being 18 years old at the time it happened and the need to deter other young drivers from similar behavior.
“It’s a high-profile case,” he said.
Mr. Mayer was a beloved figure, a married father of three sons and an active member of Princeton Alliance Church. His death devastated the community and two families — Mr. Mayer’s and the victim’s, a local official said.
“It’s obviously a horrible situation for both families,” said Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried on Friday. “It’s a tragedy all around.”
Mr. Mayer’s death was felt hard in the district he led, with schools being closed for two days.
Acting superintendent Kathie Foster on Friday released a statement that said, in part, “As a school district, our role is to provide support for our students, staff, and community members impacted by this tragedy.”
