FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 2017
DRIVER INVOLVED WITH FATAL CRASH FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:
Stephen Zadroga, age 27, of Jersey City, has been criminally charged for his involvement in the November 16 motor vehicle crash in Jersey City that claimed the life of one of his passengers, 29-year-old Jersey City resident Matthew Nierstedt.
Zadroga, who surrendered to detectives from the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor on December 19, 2017, has been charged with one count of Death by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5; three counts of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c); one count of Causing Death or Injury while Driving Unlicensed or Suspended in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:40-22, a third-degree crime; and three counts of Causing Death or Injury while Driving Unlicensed or Suspended, fourth-degree crimes, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:40-22.
Zadroga was also charged with violations of Title 39. The violations are Driving While Suspended, Driving While Intoxicated, Failure to Maintain a Marked Traffic Lane, Reckless Driving, and Speeding.
The other driver involved in motor vehicle crash was Steven Carvache, age 40, of Jersey City. Carvache has been charged with violations of Title 39. The violations are Driving While Intoxicated and Speeding.
On November 16, 2017, at approximately 2:10 a.m., Jersey City Police Officers were dispatched to Paterson Plank Road in Jersey City on a report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered two vehicles were involved with the crash. The first vehicle was a 2006 Acura TL registered to Carvache. The second vehicle was a 2013 Mazda MZ6 registered to Zadroga.
The initial investigation determined that Carvache was driving his Acura southbound on Paterson Plank Road and Zadroga was driving his Mazda northbound on Paterson Plank Road when they collided in the southbound lane of traffic.
Carvache had one female passenger who was seated in the front seat of his vehicle. They were both transported by Emergency Medical Services to Christ Hospital in Jersey City where they were treated for their injuries.
Zadroga had a female passenger in the front seat of his vehicle and a male passenger, Nierstedt, seated in the rear seat of his vehicle. The female passenger was transported by EMS to Hoboken Hospital and Zadroga was transported privately to Jersey City Medical Center. Nierstedt was transported by EMS to JCMC. He was pronounced dead at approximately 3 a.m.
The Homicide Unit of The Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor is actively investigating this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).