Victim identified in fatal Route 1 crash in South Brunswick

A 61-year-old woman from Plano, Texas was killed in a crash on Route 1 Thursday night, police said.

The victim, Venkataramana Tangerala, was a back-seat passenger in a 2016 Chrysler sedan driven by Naga Remani, 37, of Plano, Texas. Remani was headed southbound on Route 1 approaching New Road and attempted to make a prohibited left hand turn onto the road by cutting through the divider. A 2004 Mazda 6 driven by Vladimir Martinez Torres, 27, of Trenton was traveling on Route 1 northbound in the left lane and had a green light to continue on Route 1 northbound. The Chrysler struck the Mazda almost head on, police said.

Seven people were injured in the crash, police said. Venkataramana Tangerala was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and died at 1:02 a.m. The driver and three other passengers of the sedan, along with the driver and passenger of the Mazda, were also transported to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. All were treated and released, with the exception of Bhaskar Vadali, 66, of Plano, Texas, who suffered a broken hip.

The crash took place just before 9 p.m. Thursday and forced the closure of Route 1 northbound for about two hours. The Monmouth Junction Fire Department and EMS units from the Kendall Park, Monmouth Junction, North Brunswick and Plainsboro, along with paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital were at the scene.

The investigation was conducted by Officer Brooke Labell and Traffic Safety Officer William Merkler. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the crash should call (732) 329-4000, ext. 7412.

Driver charged in crash that hit house

South Brunswick Police charged a Dayton man with drunk driving and driving with a suspended license after he hit two mailboxes, two utility poles, and one house early Saturday morning. The crash took place at 1:07 am Saturday morning on New Road at Route 522. Akhil Uppuluri, 22, was headed eastbound on New Road in a 2016 Acura and allegedly was driving more than 80 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. He lost control and struck a mailbox and utility pole in front of 277 New Road, then continued driving, striking another mailbox and utility pole in front of 279 New Road. The vehicle then crashed into the front of the home at 281 New Road and came to rest in the intersection of Route 522.

Uppuluri was transported by Monmouth Junction First Aid and paramedics to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He was released after treatment. Officers determined that Uppuluri had been drinking and was driving while his license was suspended. He was also charged with reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain a lane, and speeding. The family member who owns the Acura was also issued a summons for allowing a suspended driver to use the vehicle.

New Road was closed for two hours during the investigation. The Monmouth Junction Fire Department responded to the crash. The crash was investigated by Officer Matthew Skolsky.