Driver charged in double-fatal Teaneck crash to weigh plea offer
A Teaneck man accused of killing two of his passengers in an October crash will now weigh a plea deal.
Teddy Mejia, 32, is accused of killing two of his passengers: Hasbrouck Heights resident Rudy Rosales Escobar, 40, and 29-year-old Englewood resident Alexander Cosme Curruchich. The crash happened Oct. 21 just after 2 a.m. According to authorities, Curruchich, Escobar and Mejia were found in the wreckage of a 2021 BMW M8501. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Talarico said a plea offer had been discussed with Mejia's attorney, Brian Neary. Mejia is facing two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, along with second-degree vehicular homicide while in violation of driving while intoxicated and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. If convicted, he could spend up to 60 years in prison.
The state's offer, not yet in writing, is for Mejia to plead guilty to two counts of aggravated manslaughter and serve 12 years in prison, to run concurrently. Mejia would have to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. There has been no agreement yet between the prosecution and defense on a plea deal.
During Monday's status conference, Talarico told Judge James Sattely that although several pieces of discovery were provided, the autopsy reports are not yet in and the Medical Examiner's Office is five to six months behind in getting reports out. He said prosecutors were also waiting for the accident reconstruction report and it was just being reviewed.
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Neary said he did not have any answer on whether his client would accept the potential plea deal.
He said they were waiting on several pieces of discovery, including the accident reconstruction report.
During Mejia's detention hearing last year, Talarico said Mejia's blood alcohol was 0.284, three times the legal limit, and a urine sample showed cocaine in his system. Talarico said receipts showed Mejia had eight drinks within two hours, including five double Jamesons and three Coronas.
The prosecutor said Mejia was driving 106 mph just five seconds before the car veered off the road and over a residential lawn and split a tree in half, causing the BMW to overturn and crash. The speed limit was 35 mph.
Mejia is expected back in court on April 12 at 9 a.m.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck NJ fatal crash defendant receives plea deal offer
