Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced today that 28-year old, Amanda Rivera of Staten Island has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in connection to a fatal crash in Jersey City on February 3, 20204.
Suarez stated that on Monday, March 4, 2024, the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit arrested Rivera. In addition to the aggravated manslaughter charge, which is a first degree crime, Rivera has been charged with reckless manslaughter, a crime of the second degree and assault by auto, fourth degree offense. She was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending her first court appearance.
A press release from the Prosecutor’s Office states, “The Jersey City Department was notified at approximately 12:20 am on Saturday, February 3, 2024 of a motor vehicle collision on Route 185 near the Linden Avenue East intersection. When responding police officers arrived, they 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, age 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.