Jackson Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Fatal DWI Parkway Crash

A 20-year-old Jackson man heads to prison for seven years for a fatal alcohol-fueled parkway crash that claimed the life of a Middletown father of five and the injury of two others. The sentence follows Eric Pereira's guilty plea to Vehicular Homicide charges in March.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter Warshaw says a joint investigation by their office and the State Police revealed that on April 2nd 2011, Pereira was traveling home to Jackson after leaving a wedding reception at the Rockleigh Country Club in Rockleigh, New Jersey where he was working as a photographer's assistant. Warshaw says although he was underage, Pereira had consumed several alcoholic beverages and had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit at the time of the crash. Witnesses also called 9-1-1 to report that Pereira was speeding, tailgating and driving aggressively.

Warshaw says while in the vicinity of Milepost 120 in Aberdeen Township, Pereira drove his vehicle at a very high rate of speed from the far left lane across three lanes of traffic into the far right lane and struck the rear bumper of a Ford Freestar van operated by 43-year-old Kevin Donnelly. Donnelly lost control of his van, causing it to careen across three lanes and flip over a guard rail and land upside down in the express lanes where it was struck by a Toyota Sienna traveling southbound. Donnelly was pronounced dead at the scene. His front seat passenger, his fiancee Erin Small of Keansburg, suffered a laceration to the liver and injuries to her neck and body. The driver of the Toyota Sienna, Keith Welge, was treated for knee and shoulder injuries.

Warshaw says while the occupants of the overturned vehicle were being extricated, Pereira approached several motorists who had stopped at the crash scene and asked to be driven away and flee the area. Pereira was arrested at the scene.

Pereira must serve 85 percent of his sentence under the state's no early release act.