East Hanover Police Officer Charged in Connection with Fatal DUI Crash

East Hanover Police Officer faces charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto after collision leaves one dead, another injured.

Keith M. Gunther, a 42-year-old sergeant with the East Hanover Police Department and resident of Wanaque, New Jersey, faces charges in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on Route 23 North in Riverdale. The accident, which took place on October 15, 2024, around 10:58 p.m., involved a head-on collision between Gunther’s vehicle, a southbound Ford F-150 driving in the northbound lanes, and a Toyota Camry traveling north.

The crash led to the death of 55-year-old Hamid Shabuddin of Paterson, who was a passenger in the Camry and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Camry, who has not been publicly identified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment.

Gunther reportedly showed signs of impairment at the scene. Following a criminal investigation, he was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide, third-degree assault by auto, and cited for driving while intoxicated. Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Gunther has been released on non-monetary bail conditions, including Level III pretrial monitoring, surrender of his driver’s license and passport, and a restriction on excessive alcohol consumption.

The upcoming court appearance for Gunther is scheduled for December 9, 2024, in a pre-indictment conference before Judge Claudia Jones. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Riverdale and Pequannock police departments, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

Authorities request that anyone with information on the incident contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200 or the Riverdale Police Department at 973-835-0034.

The charges against Gunther remain accusations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.