According to News 12, a Newark garbage truck driver has been charged with reckless vehicular homicide following a fatal crash on Monday morning on Route 23 in Pequannock Township, NJ.
Angel Carabello-Maldona, 45, was driving the garbage truck when it struck a 2020 Chevy Traverse stopped at a light at the intersection of Route 23 North and Alexander Avenue. The crash caused the car to catch fire, and the driver, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene despite rescue efforts.
Surveillance video shows Carabello-Maldona using his cell phone at the time of the accident. The driver and a bystander removed the unconscious man from the car before police arrived. Carabello-Maldona is being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility and is facing charges of second-degree vehicular homicide, fourth-degree reckless driving, and third-degree unlawful use of a cell phone while driving. He is awaiting his first court appearance.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea is an experienced garbage truck accident lawyer who represents motorists in New Jersey. He helps injured victims or their surviving families seek financial compensation after a truck accident. Recently, he explained who can be held liable in a garbage truck accident.
"As an attorney who specializes in truck accident cases, I want to take a moment to discuss the legal responsibility that truck drivers and truck companies have to ensure the safety of passenger drivers sharing the road with them. Unfortunately, truck accidents can often result in devastating injuries or fatalities due to commercial trucks' sheer size and power, such as garbage trucks.
When truck drivers and truck companies fail to follow federal regulations and other safety guidelines, they can be held liable for any resulting accidents. This means that the families of those who have tragically lost a loved one due to a fatal truck accident may have the legal right to seek compensation for their losses.
Families of lost loved ones can find guidance from experienced truck accident lawyers. They can help those who have been wrongfully injured or killed in a truck accident, and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence."