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Belleville Man Gets Six Years for Fatal Roxbury Crash While Driving Under the Influence
Court finds defendant drove at 90 mph with open alcohol containers, causing the death of a 19-year-old Flanders resident.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – A 41-year-old man from Belleville will serve six years in state prison after pleading guilty to second-degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide and Driving While Under the Influence in connection with a high-speed crash that killed a 19-year-old driver in Roxbury last year. Gerald Veneziano received his sentence from Superior Court Judge Robert Hanna on February 14, 2025, which includes a mandatory No Early Release Act (NERA) provision requiring him to serve at least 85% of the sentence. The judge also ordered Veneziano to pay $8,961 in restitution to the victim’s family.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 31, 2024, Roxbury Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office responded to a two-vehicle collision on Howard Boulevard. Investigators determined that:
- A southbound 2019 Mazda 3, driven by Jacob Davis, 19, of Flanders, and
- A northbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Veneziano,
were traveling in opposite directions when they collided. The Mazda was struck with such force that Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency personnel extricated Veneziano from the Silverado, transporting him to Morristown Medical Center for serious internal injuries. Onsite investigators discovered numerous empty alcohol containers near where the Silverado came to rest. A subsequent investigation revealed that Veneziano was driving under the influence and traveling at nearly 90 mph—well above the speed limit—when the collision occurred.
On January 6, 2025, Veneziano pleaded guilty to charges of Reckless Vehicular Homicide (2nd degree) and Driving While Under the Influence. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Hanna imposed:
- Six years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to NERA.
- $8,961 in restitution for the victim’s family.
NERA means Veneziano will serve at least 85% of his prison term before becoming eligible for parole, reflecting the serious nature of the offense. Additionally, he faces a lengthy period of driver’s license suspension under state guidelines for causing a fatality while intoxicated.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll credited the diligent work of the Roxbury Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit for piecing together the evidence that led to Veneziano’s conviction. This collaborative effort highlights the commitment of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for dangerous, intoxicated driving that ends innocent lives.
By removing a high-risk driver from the roads, officials hope to convey a strong message about the consequences of drinking and driving, especially at high speeds. The fatal crash underscores the potential devastation one reckless decision can cause to families and communities.
