WEST NEW YORK, NJ — Fernando Tlatelpa was killed after a two-vehicle accident that happened in West New York, New Jersey on Saturday, December 6th, 2014. The news report from NJ said that the accident happened at or around 2:20 Saturday morning.
27-year-old Fernando Tlatelpa was killed when the Acura he was driving and a Toyota Highlander collided head-on while driving near the intersection of Hillside Road and Defino Way. Tlatelpa’s vehicle continued to drive through a nearby fence and into a mountainside.
Tlatelpa was taken to Jersey City Medical Center where he died. It is not clear if the driver of the Highlander was hurt in the crash.
New Jersey State Police are still investigating at this time.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
Just based on the facts reported in the news, and based on the 2:20 in the morning time of the accident, I have a sneaking suspicion that this could be an alcohol related accident. Sure, it is possible that the driver of the vehicle that crossed over fell asleep at the wheel, but whenever something like this happens at or around the 2:00 a.m. last call for alcohol, something tells me to look a little deeper. Why? Because if alcohol played a role in the crash, the driver may not be the only liable party. Any time a bar gives alcohol to somebody who is clearly drunk, that sale is considered illegal. If you’ve ever been encouraged by a bartender or server to stay for one more drink, then you can imagine that this law gets overlooked for higher sales quite often. If a bar is behind a drunk driver, they can and need to be held liable right along with them. If bars start seeing drunk drivers as liabilities, they may make less of them and serve alcohol safely, and those that don’t need to be made an example of.
— Grossman Law Offices
