A Linden man who caused a drunk driving accident on a local road and killed a motorcyclist is headed to prison after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.

The fatal auto accident occurred at 4:15 p.m. on December 13, 2015 and involved two vehicles: a car and a motorcycle. The motorist responsible for the DWI crash was a 46-year-old resident of Linden, New Jersey. According to Union County prosecutors, he was behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and traveling eastbound on East Elizabeth Avenue. As the motorist approached McKinley Avenue, he made a left turn — and reportedly cut off a motorcycle at the intersection.

The motorcyclist, a 51-year-old Elizabeth NJ man, attempted to steer clear of the car and avoid a high-speed collision. Unfortunately, the sudden movement of the bike caused the Elizabeth man to be thrown onto the pavement. As a result, he slid across the ground and crashed into the rear of the car.

Emergency crews rushed to the area, but they were unable to save the injured motorcyclist. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The Linden Police Department investigated the accident and gave the motor vehicle driver a breath test. He allegedly failed the breathalyzer test and registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .16 percent. The legal limit for drivers in New Jersey is .08 percent BAC.

The driver was placed under arrest and charged with multiple crimes, including death by auto. He also faced traffic charges for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). If the case had gone to trial in Union County Superior Court, the suspect would have been subject to maximum penalties and a lengthy term of incarceration. However, he managed to avoid a criminal trial by reaching a plea agreement.

The suspect recently appeared in court and pleaded guilty to both the DWI charges and the death by auto charges. He will have to return to the courtroom later this year, at which time Union County prosecutors are expected to recommend that he be sentenced to five years behind bars.

In addition to serving time in prison, the suspect may have to answer a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the Linden motorcycle crash. That’s because NJ law allows surviving family members of victims killed in fatal motorcycle accidents to seek compensation and justice for their tragic loss.

If you tragically lost a loved one in motorcycle crash on a New Jersey road, you should contact an experienced motorcycle accident and wrongful death attorney. Andrew S. Prince of Team Law will fight to get you compensation and justice for your loss.