An 18-year-old driver is facing a second-degree vehicle homicide charge after running a red light, causing a fatal crash on Route 202, and fleeing the scene on foot.
Siddartha Prasad Surapanani, 18, of Belle Mead, was arrested on Monday, in connection with the morning collision that claimed the life of a Bridgewater woman.
Raritan police officers responded to the intersection of Route 202 and First Avenue at 6:29 a.m. following reports of a severe crash. Upon arrival, officers found a two-vehicle collision involving a Genesis SUV and an Acura SUV.
An initial investigation revealed that Surapanani was driving the Genesis SUV when he ran a red light across the intersection, striking the driver’s side door of the Acura SUV. The driver of the Acura, identified as a female resident of Bridgewater, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators received multiple reports that Surapanani had been driving erratically leading up to the crash, including driving in the wrong direction at times along Route 202.
Following the impact, Surapanani fled the scene on foot before being captured by responding Raritan police officers. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, where he was served with a criminal complaint charging him with second-degree vehicle homicide.
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