FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Grand Jury has indicted Samantha E. Bonora, 31, of Howell, in connection with a tragic three-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a 3-year-old girl and injuries to several others. The announcement was made by First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso.
The crash occurred on Saturday, January 13, 2024, around 4:41 p.m., along Highway 34 near the Colts Neck border. According to police reports, Bonora was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck southbound when she crossed into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The impact caused her vehicle to stop in the northbound lane, where it was subsequently rear-ended by a Ford Bronco.
A 3-year-old girl in the Cherokee was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Cherokee and another child, a 2-year-old boy, were seriously injured and required hospitalization. Bonora, along with the female passenger of the Jeep and the female driver of the Ford Bronco, also sustained injuries.
Investigations revealed that Bonora was under the influence of multiple narcotic substances at the time of the incident. She faces charges of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter, two counts of second-degree Aggravated Assault, and two counts of fourth-degree Assault by Auto. Bonora is currently held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute pending further legal proceedings.