Prosecutors: Driver In Deadly Crash Was Texting

Authorities say a woman accused of causing a deadly crash in Newark earlier this month was texting when the accident occurred.

Essex County prosecutors announced Tuesday that 35-year-old Jennifer Sahoye of Rahway has been charged with vehicular homicide in the Oct. 10 crash on Routes 1 & 9 in Newark. She's also accused of causing death while driving with a suspended license, a charge that was filed shortly after the crash occurred.

Authorities say Sahoye was southbound in the express lanes of Routes 1 & 9, near the Route 78 interchange, when she crossed into the southbound local lanes and hit a pickup truck driven by 58-year-old Carlos Carvalho of Elizabeth.

The impact caused Carvalho's truck to overturn. He was ejected from the truck and suffered fatal injuries.

Witnesses at the scene told authorities they thought Sahoye had been texting as she drove, and prosecutors say further investigation confirmed those suspicions.

Sahoye was arraigned Tuesday on both charges and jailed in lieu of $50,000. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on both charges.

It was not known Tuesday if she has retained an attorney.