Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma dies in fatal Gloucester County crash

Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma dies in fatal Gloucester County crash

Fatal Gloucester County car crash death of Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma – Obituary

Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma, 19, from Maryland, was tragically killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Gloucester County during the early morning hours of May 18. The crash also claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy and left several others injured.

Authorities say 19-year-old Cesar I. Martinez Andino, the driver of the SUV involved in the accident, was holding a cellphone, speeding, and had consumed alcohol prior to losing control of the vehicle around 1 a.m. near Harrison Township. The SUV veered off the road, rolled down an embankment, and slammed into a tree, splitting the vehicle in half. Four of the six people inside were ejected from the vehicle.

Munguia-Palma and the 14-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and two other passengers sustained serious injuries, while one more passenger had moderate injuries.

Investigators recovered a cellphone that was actively recording during the crash. Footage from the phone reportedly showed Martinez Andino using the device while driving recklessly and nearly colliding with another vehicle before the crash.

At the crash site, Martinez Andino initially denied being the driver but later admitted to it. Investigators also discovered empty alcohol containers in the SUV. Although his blood alcohol content tested at 0.047%, which is below the legal limit, authorities pointed out that as a 19-year-old, he was not legally permitted to consume alcohol at all.

Martinez Andino now faces multiple charges, including two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, child endangerment, assault by auto, and driving without a license resulting in death and injury.

Superior Court Judge Renard Scott ruled that Martinez Andino will remain in custody until trial, citing his reckless behavior, the serious nature of the charges, and the risk he poses to the community. The judge emphasized that the tragic incident could have been prevented had the defendant chosen not to drive under the influence and without a license.