Howell 20-Year-Old Charged with Vehicular Homicide

The Howell man behind the wheel during a grisly car crash in the township last April is now charged with causing the death of his back-seat passenger.

Joseph Gonsalves, 20, would face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of a second-degree vehicular homicide charge filed by the office of acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Grammiccioni.

Prosecutors say he would be subject to New Jersey's No Early Release Act, requiring him to serve more than eight years before parole eligibility.

Gonsalves is also charged with road infractions of driving while intoxicated, underage DWI, reckless driving, speeding and failure to maintain a lane.

He turned himself in Monday and was placed in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold with bail set at $75,000, and no option for release on payment of 10 percent.

Investigators allege that Gonsalves was under the influence of alcohol and speeding just before the crash on Alexander Avenue shortly after 10 PM on April 16.

Howell police found Gonsalves and a front-seat passenger trapped in the car but unhurt, while the 21-year-old in the rear seat was unresponsive and failed to respond to revival efforts, authorities said. He was pronounced dead shortly after transport to hospitalization.

The case is ongoing. Anyone who is familiar with circumstances surrounding it is urged to call Detective Eric Kerecman of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, 800-533-7443; or Howell Township Patrolman Matthew Cherney, 732-938-4575.