Julia Scanlon sentenced for crash that killed Frank Bersani Jr.

A Sewell woman has started a five-year prison term for causing the death of a popular restaurant manager in a traffic accident.Julia Scanlon, 37, was driving a car that struck an SUV at Egg Harbor and Ganttown roads around 10:30 p.m. on July 28, 2023.

The accident killed Frank Bersani Jr., a 56-year-old resident of Laurel Springs.

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Bersani was general manager of Cotardo’s Ristorante in Gloucester Township, where he worked for 40 years.

He was the father of three, according to an obituary.

A GoFundMe campaign in Bersani's memory raised more than $8,600 for his children's education.

"He was a gentle giant with an even bigger heart," one contributor, Joseph La Rocca, wrote in a message with his donation.

"The outpouring of love and support since this horrible news is a testament of the man he was," the message said of Bersani. "His equally huge smile and infectious laugh will be missed."

Scanlon, who was accused of driving while intoxicated, and other offenses was sentenced on April 8 for vehicular homicide: reckless driving.

Scanlon must serve four years and three months before parole eligibility, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Prison term for crash that killed Frank Bersani Jr. of Laurel Springs