PARAMUS, NJ – Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Jose Santos, a laborer residing at 5 Gilbert Avenue, Paramus, following a fatal car crash.
On Sunday, July 23, at 12:58 a.m., the Paramus Police Department was alerted to a collision on Farview Avenue.
The crash involved a 2021 Mercedes Benz operated by Santos and a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle driven by 28-year-old Cody Cleary of Paramus, NJ. Cleary was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center in a critical condition.
Santos was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested at the scene. He was charged with third-degree assault by auto resulting in serious bodily injury while in violation of driving while intoxicated.
On last Thursday, the Paramus Police Department was informed that Cleary had succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Santos was subsequently charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Santos is currently detained at the Bergen County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for August 2.