By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A former Hillside, New Jersey police officer was convicted of vehicular homicide in a 2021 crash that killed a married couple, prosecutors said.
• The officer, John P. McClave III, was driving to work when the crash occurred in Tinton Falls.
• Authorities said he was driving recklessly and under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the crash.
• Toxicology results showed the presence of THC in his system; the case was tried in Ocean County.
OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A former Hillside police officer has been convicted of vehicular homicide in connection with a 2021 crash that killed a married couple, according to prosecutors.
John P. McClave III, 38, of Toms River, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide following a trial moved to Ocean County to avoid potential conflicts of interest, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2021, on Asbury Avenue near a Garden State Parkway overpass in Tinton Falls. McClave was driving to work at the time of the collision, prosecutors said.
Angel L. Acevedo Jr., 40, and Daniela Correia Salles, 35, both of Baltimore, were pronounced dead at the scene. McClave sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Prosecutors said McClave was operating his vehicle recklessly and under the influence of intoxicants when the crash occurred. Toxicology results showed the presence of THC in his system, though his blood alcohol level was below the legal limit, according to court documents.
Sentencing information was not immediately released.