Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide Following Fatal Crash in Roxbury Twp

Alexander Serrano faces second-degree homicide charge after a passenger was killed in a single-vehicle collision on April 28.

ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 33-year-old man from East Rutherford has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal crash that occurred early Monday morning in Roxbury Township, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on April 28, first responders arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Howard Boulevard at the intersection of Ledgewood Road and Mt. Arlington Road. A 2003 Chevy Express van had reportedly collided with a tree and sustained heavy damage.

The vehicle's front passenger, identified as 30-year-old Esmeralda Melchar, also of East Rutherford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alexander Serrano, the driver of the van, exhibited signs of intoxication, authorities stated. He was initially transported to Morristown Medical Center for treatment and later transferred to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Following the investigation, Serrano was charged with one count of second-degree Vehicular Homicide, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5A. He has since been released under non-monetary bail conditions in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act. These conditions include Pretrial Monitoring (Level III), the surrender of his driver’s license and passport, and a mandate to refrain from excessive alcohol use.

Serrano’s next court appearance is a Pre-Indictment Conference scheduled for June 9, before Judge Robert Hanna, J.S.C.

The investigation involved members of the Roxbury Police Department, New Jersey State Police, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Authorities emphasize that the charges are allegations, and Serrano is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.