A Pennsylvania man was charged on July 12 with crossing into oncoming traffic while under the influence of narcotics and killing a motorist in Edison on April 5.
John T. O’Donnell Sr., 57, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was charged with death by auto for causing the death of Marcus Scroggins, 33, of Edison, according to a statement prepared by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department.
O’Donnell reportedly surrendered to authorities during an investigation by Detective Loren Long of the Edison Police Department and Detective Donald Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation determined that O’Donnell was driving a U-Haul rental box truck and was heading north on Route 27 in Edison when he allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic at 1:47 p.m., officials said. The box truck reportedly side-swiped a 1999 Ford Explorer. The driver of the Explorer was reportedly injured, but declined medical treatment, police said.
O’Donnell allegedly continued on the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Scroggins, according to the statement. The box truck reportedly pushed the Pontiac about 100 feet before stopping at the Division Street intersection.
Emergency medical technicians arriving at the scene treated O’Donnell with an opiate antidote commonly known as Narcan, according to police.
Anyone with information should call Long at 732-248-7400 or Heck at 732-745-3300.
