Wrong way driver who killed manchester grandfather on route 70 surrenders to police

Lakewood, NJ — A Brick Township man who allegedly sped down the wrong side of Route 70 at more than 100 miles per hour and caused a deadly eight-car crash has been charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and assault by auto, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Wednesday.

Brian Baldari, 47, turned himself in to Lakewood police the same day, months after the March 7 crash that left 66-year-old Edwin Borja of Manchester dead and another driver injured. Authorities say Baldari was behind the wheel of a Cadillac CT5 Blackwing, which barreled westbound in the eastbound lanes of Route 70 for roughly two miles before slamming head-on into Borja’s Mazda CX5 near Airport Road.

The early morning crash unfolded at around 5:50 a.m., igniting a chain reaction that ultimately involved eight vehicles. Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Lakewood police, and the sheriff’s crime scene unit said the Cadillac struck multiple vehicles after colliding with Borja’s car before catching fire.

Baldari was pulled from the burning wreck and flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, then later transferred to Weill Cornell Medicine Burn Center in New York City. He was released following treatment. Borja, who also suffered critical injuries, was airlifted from the scene but died 11 days later on March 18.

The crash left one other driver hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the remaining motorists escaped uninjured.

Officials say data and evidence gathered in the ongoing investigation showed Baldari’s car reached speeds of approximately 103 mph prior to the deadly impact. That evidence prompted the serious charges filed this week.

Baldari is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.