RARITAN BOROUGH — A retired police sergeant is accused of being drunk on the wheel and killing a pedestrian in a crash this previous fall.
Kevin D. Betyeman, 56, of Bridgewater, now faces expenses of strict legal responsibility vehicular murder and hindering, each third-degree expenses, in accordance with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Workplace on Tuesday.
Borough police beforehand charged Betyeman with driving whereas intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and failing to yield to a pedestrian.
On Sept. 18, Betyeman was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado eastbound on Previous York Highway when he struck and killed 60-year-old Celeste Andresen, of Arizona.
Andresen was in a well-marked crosswalk making an attempt to cross Previous York Highway close to Woodmere Avenue, police stated.
A number of hours after the crash, Betyeman’s blood-alcohol focus was above the authorized restrict of 0.08%, although when requested by police on the scene, he denied having any alcohol or intoxicating substances, officers stated.
He had retired in July 2019 as a sergeant, after 25 years with the Mountainside Police Division.
“Betyeman was not handled in a different way as a consequence of his prior regulation enforcement expertise,” a spokesman for the prosecutor’s workplace stated in response to New Jersey 101.5. “Raritan Police Division Officers concerned on this case dealt with themselves in knowledgeable method and adopted the correct protocols for this kind of investigation.”
If convicted of third-degree strict legal responsibility, he nonetheless may face a jail sentence, although at a decrease quantity than if convicted of a second diploma cost.
Andresen was born and raised within the borough earlier than shifting to San Manuel, Arizona, the place she lived along with her husband.
Responding officers first handled accidents on the scene earlier than having Betyeman carry out a subject sobriety take a look at.
An assistant prosecutor utilized for a search warrant, granted by a Superior Courtroom Decide, to attract blood from Betyeman, who then was taken to a hospital for the blood pattern to find out his BAC.
Marijuana authorized in NJ: How do the legal guidelines work?
Solutions to frequent questions on legalized leisure marijuana in New Jersey and guidelines about underage use of weed.
