06/12/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Tara Monks // Tara Monks
Ridgewood, NJ – A Mahwah man was charged with vehicular homicide, along with other charges, for his role in a motor vehicle accident that killed an 80-year-old woman Friday, June 11, 2010, as reported by NJ.com.
Rocco John Benedetto, 36, was reportedly intoxicated and under the influence of drugs when he caused a three-vehicle accident that killed Dorothy Scordato, of Allendale.
Investigators reported that Benedetto was traveling south along Route 17 in Ridgewood just before 2 p.m. Friday afternoon when his 2009 Mercedes Benz struck Scordato’s 2005 Honda Element. The woman lost control of her vehicle and veered across several lanes. The Element was then struck by a 2008 Honda Civic that was driven by a woman from New York. The woman driving the Civic was not charged.
Ridgewood police were made aware of the collision by multiple 911 calls that came in from passing vehicles.
Scordato was transported to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. She later died of her injuries.
It was reported that Benedetto drove for approximately one-half mile before pulling off the highway and calling police.
He faces charges of second-degree vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and being under the influence of a controlled and dangerous substance.
His bail was set to $150,000.
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