A New Jersey man accused of driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed a newlywed couple late last month has been charged with multiple crimes, including vehicular homicide, authorities announced Saturday.
Levon Woods, 25, of Atlantic City, collided head-on with a vehicle occupied by a Mays Landing couple in the early hours of Feb. 22, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said in a news release.
The crash, which happened in Maurice River Township, just west of Atlantic City, killed 57-year-old Thomas Splinter and 29-year-old Nancy Orellana-Splinter.
According to New Jersey State Police, officers responded to the area near milepost 19.4 shortly after 4 a.m. for reports of a head-on collision. Investigators later determined Woods was driving under the influence when he crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the car carrying the couple, “resulting in their death.”
On Thursday, Woods was charged with two counts each of second-degree vehicular homicide, third-degree strict liability vehicular homicide and violation of law intended to protect public health and safety, said Webb-McRae.
Woods surrendered to authorities later that day and was booked at the Cumberland County Jail.
At his first court appearance on Friday, prosecutors filed a motion to detain Woods pending trial. A hearing on the detention application is scheduled for Wednesday.
The couple killed the crash had just tied the knot in September, according to a GoFundMe created to help the family with arrangements.
Orleanna-Splinter is survived by a son, to whom “Tom was a wonderful father figure,” her friend Tasruba Rahman wrote on the fundraising page.
“Tom himself was a loving father of tree,” Rahman added.