Jennifer Sahoye, 35, of Rahway, is now the first person charged with homicide in Essex County in connection with a texting-while-driving incident.
Prosecutors say Sahoye was driving in the express lanes of Route 1 & 9 in Newark on October 10 when she crossed into the local lanes and hit a pickup truck driven by 58-year-old Carlos Carvalho.
Authorities say they have proof that Sahoye, who was also driving with a suspended license, was texting at the time of the crash.
Family members said Carvahlo was a father of three who had been married for 36 years and worked as a welder. His son told Eyewitness News reporter Jim Dolan that his dad would do anything for his family.
Sahoye was originally charged with causing death while driving with a suspended license, but the charges were upgraded after it became clear she was using her phone.
She [is] being released from the Essex County jail on $50,000 bond and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
You wouldn't believe the amount of times I see people on their phones whilst driving, totally absorbed, or even heads down looking up at the road every now & then. Texting while driving is just asking for it & a large amount of drivers shouldn't be on the road, full stop.