FREEHOLD, NJ — In a tragic incident that has deeply affected the Howell community, 31-year-old Samantha E. Bonora has been charged in connection with a fatal three-vehicle accident that occurred in mid-January, leading to the death of a 3-year-old girl and injuries to several others. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced the charges on Friday, highlighting the severity of the crash and its consequences.
The accident took place on Saturday, January 13, 2024, around 4:41 p.m., on Highway 34 near the Colts Neck border. According to the Howell Police Department, Bonora was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck southbound on Highway 34 when she crossed into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The impact caused Bonora’s vehicle to stop in the northbound lane, where it was subsequently rear-ended by a Ford Bronco.
A 3-year-old girl, a passenger in the Jeep Cherokee, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Cherokee and another child passenger, a 2-year-old boy, were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Bonora, the female passenger of the Jeep, and the female driver of the Ford Bronco all sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Further investigation into the incident revealed that Bonora was under the influence of multiple narcotic substances at the time of the accident. As a result, Bonora faces one count of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter and two counts of second-degree Aggravated Assault, in addition to being charged with Driving Under the Influence and receiving multiple motor vehicle summonses.
Bonora was arrested and is currently held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute (MCCI), awaiting her first court appearance scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2024.