Princeton High School Graduate Killed in I-95 Crash
Princeton High School graduate Jonathan Rivas, 19, died today as a result of serious head injuries he suffered in a car crash that claimed two other young lives early Thursday.
Luis Delcid-Cardona, 19, of Hamilton,was allegedly driving while intoxicated when he lost control of the 2001 Volkswagen GTS on I-95 southbound in Lawrence just after 1 a.m. His vehicle went over a curb that divides the on-ramp lanes from Route 1. His vehicle, which had three passengers, then struck the rear of a tractor-trailer that had pulled onto the shoulder of the ramp.
Rivas, who was in the front passenger seat, was taken to Capital Health Regional Hospital, where he died today. The two rear seat passengers, Samantha Belliveau, 18, of Hamilton and Nicole Rodrigues, 20, of Yardville were both ejected from the car and died at the scene.
Delcid-Cardona was also injured, but fled the scene following the crash. He was located and arrested a short time later at a home in Lawrence. He has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while intoxicated. Additional charges are possible. He remains under guard on $1 million bail in Capital Health, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Troopers from Hamilton Station and Troop C detectives are working with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office on the investigation. The State Police’s fatal accident investigation unit and crime scene investigations unit assisted with the investigation.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
I can’t believe this happened it is so sad, Rivas is my friends brother she is heart broken. My love goes out to the families of those two girls.