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Rood was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol when he lost control of the SUV just before 1 a.m. today on Jackson Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said. Paul Meehan II, a 31-year-old compliance manager with E-Trade, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic NJ, in critical condition. He was pronouned dead less than an hour later, the prosecutor said.
Paul Rood, right (MUGSHOT: Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office)A front passenger, 29-year-old Brian Russell was taken to Hackensack University Hospital and later released, he said.
A blood sample was taken from Rood at HUMC and sent to the New Jersey State Police laboratory for a toxicology analysis, Molinelli said.
Bail has been set for $75,000 for Rood, a maintenance director at Assumption Church in Wood-Ridge. He is also charged with driving under the influence, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to wear a seat belt.
Meehan, who was graduated from Sparta High School in 1997, is survived by wife, Dawn, his parents Paul and Patricia, brothers James and Richard Meehan and others.
A funeral service is scheduled for Friday at St. Joseph Parish of East Rutherford, followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Visiting hours are 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Collins-Calhoun Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Ave., Rutherford.
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