Angel Carabello-Maldona, 45, of Newark, is facing a charge of reckless vehicular homicide after rear-ending a Chevy Traverse that was stopped at a light at Alexander Avenue in Pequannock around 5:20 a.m., Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.
As a result, the Traverse caught fire. Carabello-Maldona and a bystander pulled the Traverse driver from the SUV, but rescue efforts were unsuccessful and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, Carroll said.
Video surveillance revealed Carabello-Maldona was using his cell phone at the time of the crash, according to the prosecutor. Results of a post-mortem examination were pending as of press time.
Carabello-Maldona has been lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act, pending a first appearance in court.
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