N.J. teen charged in fatal crash that killed 16-year-old passenger

A 17-year-old driver has been charged in an August crash in Franklin Township that killed a 16-year-old passenger, officials with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.
The teenager from Clinton Township was charged with second-degree death by auto, fourth-degree assault by auto and two counts of disorderly persons assault by auto.
The 17-year-old’s name was not released by authorities Tuesday.
Franklin Township police responded to a three-car crash around 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 22 at the intersection of Hogback Road, Route 617 and Lower Lansdown Road, authorities said.
The car the teenagers were in was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a stop sign, officials said.
The crash killed Sophia Detorres, 16, of Franklin Township, and injured two other teenage passengers in the car, officials said.
Detorres was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
On Sept. 6, the 17-year-old was issued a summons for reckless driving, careless driving, disregarding a stop sign and violating the conditions of a probationary license by having too many passengers in the vehicle at the time of the crash, authorities said.
An attorney for the 17-year-old did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Matthew Enuco may be reached at [email protected]. Follow Matt on X.