Cops: Illegal immigrant charged in fatal crash
By TIM ZATZARINY Jr.
June 3, 2009
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WOODBURY -- A Bridgeton man has been charged in connection with the death of a 52-year-old woman in a two-vehicle collision in Clayton on Tuesday morning, authorities said Tuesday.



Mary P. Rogers, of the 1600 block of Hessian Drive, Williamstown, died of injuries received in the crash at Fries Mill Road and Deschler Boulevard, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

The driver of the other vehicle, 25-year-old Rubiel Sanchez-Ramirez, of the 100 block of Laurel Street, Bridgeton, was charged with causing death in a motor vehicle crash while driving without a license. The third degree offense is punishable by three to five years in state prison, according to authorities.

Police said they also issued Sanchez-Ramirez several summonses for motor vehicle violations, including careless driving and driving without a license.

Sanchez-Ramirez was held in the Gloucester County Jail on $100,000 bail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Sanchez-Ramirez because he is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, said Bernie Weisenfeld, the prosecutor's spokesman.

According to authorities, Sanchez-Ramirez was driving northbound on Fries Mill Road shortly before 6:55 a.m. in a 1996 Ford Explorer belonging to his fiancée. Rogers was driving a 2002 Altima, and the Explorer struck her vehicle on the driver's side as the Altima turned onto Fries Mill Road southbound from Deschler Boulevard.

The impact pushed the Altima off the road and into the tree line of a nearby residence, Weisenfeld said.

Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. An autopsy is pending.

There were no other occupants in either vehicle.

Sanchez-Ramirez suffered minor injuries in the crash, and was taken to Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Washington Township, where he was treated and released.

The crash closed Fries Mill Road to traffic for about four hours Tuesday while investigators from the New Jersey State Police, Clayton police and the prosecutor's office were at the scene.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the Monroe and Franklin police departments and the Cecil Fire Co. assisted at the scene.


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