FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

DRIVER CHARGED IN FATAL CRASH ON ROUTE 185 IN JERSEY CITY

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Monday, March 4, 2024, the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit arrested the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash in Jersey City on February 3, 2024.

Amanda Rivera, 28, of Staten Island, is charged with Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1), a crime of the first degree; Reckless Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4b(1), a crime of the second degree; and Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(2), a crime of the fourth degree. She was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending her first court appearance.

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, at approximately 12:20 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department was notified of a motor vehicle collision on Route 185 near the Linden Avenue East intersection. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 2019 Nissan sedan that had collided with the rear of a parked and unoccupied tractor trailer. Three female occupants were transported to Jersey City Medical Center by Emergency Medical Services. Rivera and the front seat passenger, a 27-year-old female from Old Bridge, were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The backseat passenger – later identified as Stephanie Weymouth, 31, of Bayonne – was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m. During the course of the investigation, it was determined Rivera was driving while intoxicated at the time of the collision.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation and arrest. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)