Crime & Safety
Police Identify Good Samaritan Killed On Parkway Saturday Night
Anibal Espinoza, 34, was one of four people attempting to help a Barnegat woman who spun out onto the right shoulder. The driver of the car that killed Espinoza was under the influence of CDS and driving without a license, police said.
State Police have identified the man who was killed while attempting to push a disabled car off the northbound lane of the Garden State Parkway in Lacey Township Saturday night.
Anibal Espinoza, 34, of North Plainfield was killed by a passing motorist when he and a group of friends were attempting to assist a Barnegat woman with her disabled car at mile marker 74.7 on the Garden State Parkway. Saturday, March 16, Sgt. Adam Grossman said Sunday morning, March 17.
The driver of the Gold Chrysler PT Cruiser that struck Espinoza was charged with driving under the influence of CDS, Grossman said.
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Eric Hernandez, 26, of New London, CT, was charged with causing death/injury while driving unlicensed, driving under the influence of CDS and obstruction. He was lodged in the Ocean County jail on $50,000 full bail.
The passenger, Carlvina Williams, 26, of New London, CT, was charged with being under the influence of CDS and obstruction. She was released, pending a court date.
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State Police, Lacey Township Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Forked River Fire Department responded to the scene of the multi-car crash at 4:46 p.m. According to Grossman, Espinoza was a passenger in a red van traveling north on the Garden State Parkway driven by when it came across a Silver Ford Focus that had spun out onto the right shoulder due to icy road conditions. Gabrielle Pacquiag, 22, of Barnegat, was driving the Focus.
Mario Morge, 37, of North Plainfield, was driving the van. Orlando Espinoza, 37, of North Plainfield and Oscar Valladares, 33, of North Plainfield, were also passengers in the van.
As a result of the accident, Anibal Espinoza was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he later succumbed to his injuries, Grossman said.
Pacquiag and Vallardes were also taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with minor injuries. Morge and Orlando Espinoza were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River with minor injuries.
State Police Detectives assisted with the investigation.
The incident remains under investigation.
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