Route 1 and 9 speed blast ends in charges after yearlong probe
Jersey City, NJ – A violent pre-dawn crash that left wreckage scattered across a major highway has now led to a criminal charge more than a year later, after investigators determined one driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before impact.
Antony Pena-Ceri, 36, of Hackensack, was arrested Friday in connection with the January 14 crash, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. He is charged with one count of assault by auto and was processed at the prosecutor’s office in Secaucus before being released pending his first court appearance.
The collision occurred just after 4 a.m. on Routes 1&9 between Duncan Avenue and Communipaw Avenue along the southbound lanes. Responding officers located two vehicles with extensive damage at the scene.
A 21-year-old Jersey City man driving a black Honda Accord was treated for minor injuries. Pena-Ceri, who was behind the wheel of a white Honda Accord, and his passenger were both treated for serious injuries.
An investigation by the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit determined Pena-Ceri was operating at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.
The charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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Key Points
- Hackensack man charged in connection with January 2025 crash on Routes 1&9
- Investigation found driver was traveling at high rate of speed at time of collision
- Three individuals injured, including two with serious injuries
