Bhavuk Uppal faces 50 years in prison.
AB Wire
NEW YORK: An Indian American man of Mountain lakes, New Jersey, Bhavuk Uppal, 22, has been charged of driving drunk early Saturday morning, which caused a horrific accident that killed three people, including a woman who was pregnant.
News 12 New Jersey reported that a judge increased bail on Monday for Uppal in the alleged drunken driving crash that killed three people on I-80 in Rockaway Township.
Prosecutors say 22-year-old Bhavuk Uppal, of Mountain Lakes, was allegedly drunk as he drove through a construction zone on I-80 just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Uppal was driving in a Cadillac Escalade and allegedly rear-ended a Kia, which then crashed into an SUV.
The Kia burst into flames, killing a young mother who was pregnant, her husband and their infant child in the backseat. Two other people inside the car were treated for injuries. Uppal now faces three counts of death by auto, two counts of assault by auto and driving while intoxicated.
According to Morris County prosecutors, Uppal has a long history of motor vehicle violations.
“He has infractions for speeding, unsafe driving, driving without a license, fictitious plates, reckless driving, driving while suspended, and he’s been involved in multiple crashes,” says Prosecutor Matthew Brown.
The Daily Record reported that the three dead individuals were still to be identified. They were pronounced dead at the scene at 4 a.m. Saturday, according to a State Police report.
Two Bronx, New York, men injured in the crash were released later that day from Morristown Medical Center, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Uppal was jailed Saturday on $300,000 bail, which was raised to $750,000 after a bail hearing in Morris County Superior Court on Monday, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the preliminary investigation, K Santiago-Madera, 26, of the Bronx was stopped in traffic in a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the left-center lane of westbound Route 80 at milepost 34.7, near Exit 34B (Route 15) at 1:37 a.m. A 2004 Kia sedan also was stopped behind the Jeep, reported the Record.
According to the State Police report, Uppal was driving a 2014 Cadillac Escalade in the left-center lane when he struck the Kia, which then hit the Jeep, causing the Kia to become “fully engulfed” in flames. Uppal’s Cadillac ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned in a grass embankment while the Kia exploded into flames, killing the people inside.
Santiago-Madera and his passenger in the Jeep, Brandon Green, 32, also of the Bronx, were taken to Morristown Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The center confirmed their July 11 release on Monday.
Uppal also was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Uppal was then taken to Netcong Station of the State Police, where he was charged.
NJ.com reported that the woman who was killed was 18 weeks pregnant, officials said.
Uppal, who appeared via closed circuit television from the Morris County Correctional Facility, does not yet have an attorney but relatives are in the process of retaining one.
Uppal’s driving record was described as “nothing short of horrendous” due to infractions such as speeding, unsafe driving, reckless driving, using fake license plates and driving while suspended.
Uppal’s prior criminal history includes six arrests since 2009 on charges ranging from theft to failing to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to law enforcement, reported NJ.com.
The assistant prosecutor told NJ.com that authorities suspect the Escalade involved in the fatal accident Saturday morning didn’t belong to Uppal and additional charges related to the vehicle may be pending.
Uppal faces up to 50 years in prison under the current charges.
6 Comments
I know him I spent time in MCCF and was actually in his block. He thinks he is only getting 10 to 15 years. I felt he was more worried about his sentence then the family that died from this tragic accident. I know he is going away for along time. I really feel bad for this young family that died in this tragic accident there families. He had no license and was driving under the influence. He has to live with this the rest of his life. He was using his parent’s SUV I have no idea what his parent’s were thinking. I know that his 1st deal from the prosecutors is 50 to life. He deserves it unfortunate or not the family not have lost their lives over this and i hope the judge see’s it the same way.
I am an Indian-American and I hope this guy gets the maximum punishment for his action.
Death penalty. That family was from my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. An 18 month old little girl, her mother who was pregnant, and the father…all died in an unthinkable horror.
I made a donation to MADD today after reading that in the obituaries.
The system failed them or that Cadillac Escalade driver would not have been on the road. A fluke accident that was NOT. He was driving drunk and not the first time he had been caught at it.
This was Russell Hitt (24) Briana Anderson (21) and Charlotte Hitt (1.5)
Yes…and Brianna was pregnant. The family was from Louisville KY
The family is Russell Hitt (24) Briana Anderson (21) and Charlotte Hitt (1.5)