Chatham Township man charged in deadly pedestrian crash
Chatham Borough, NJ – A midday walk along a borough roadway turned fatal, and weeks later prosecutors say the investigation has led to criminal charges against a Chatham Township man accused of striking and killing a pedestrian with his pickup truck.
Morris County prosecutors announced that Matthew Vining, 29, of Chatham Township, has been charged with second-degree reckless vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal pedestrian crash on Fairmount Avenue. The charge stems from a collision that occurred around 12:07 p.m. on Friday.
Investigators said a Ford F-150 traveling south on Fairmount Avenue struck a 54-year-old pedestrian. The victim was transported to a hospital, where the person was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity.
Vining was identified at the scene as the driver of the truck. Following a joint investigation by local and county agencies, he was formally charged on Tuesday with reckless vehicular homicide along with multiple motor vehicle offenses.
On Wednesday, Vining was granted pretrial release under special conditions that include surrendering his passport, signing a waiver of extradition, and having no contact with victims. He is scheduled to appear for a pre-indictment conference on March 23 before Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor.
The investigation involved the Chatham Borough Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit. Prosecutors emphasized that the case remains active.
Officials noted that a criminal complaint is an accusation and that Vining is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- A 29-year-old Chatham Township man is charged with reckless vehicular homicide
- The crash killed a 54-year-old pedestrian on Fairmount Avenue
- The defendant was released pretrial with strict court-ordered conditions