EDISON – An Orange man faces criminal charges for his alleged involvement following a fatal motorcycle crash, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department.
Roland Q. Lyles, 31, was charged on June 27 with aggravated assault in the second degree. The charges were upgraded on July 1 following the death of the victim, to aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, vehicular homicide in the second degree, and driving with a suspended license and causing the death of another person in the third degree. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses including driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license, officials said.
The deceased motorcyclist was identified as Richard Diaz, 51, of Brooklyn, New York, officials said.
During the investigation it was determined on June 27 at approximately 2:19 a.m., Lyles was driving a white Nissan Sentra traveling northbound on Route 1 near Grandview Avenue allegedly at a high rate of speed when he reportedly struck the victim’s motorcycle. Diaz was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick following the crash. He died on June 30 from his injuries, officials said.
The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information should call Detective Dominick Masi of the Edison Police Department at 732-248-7400, or Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4328.
