ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — A man formerly of Parsippany-Troy Hills has been sentenced to 16 years in New Jersey State Prison for his role in a fatal two-vehicle crash on Route 80, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Acting Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano.
The Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. handed down the sentence on Friday, September 11, for Victor Peters, 46. The sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning Peters must serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole.
A jury convicted Peters on Wednesday, July 22, following a five-day trial, finding him guilty of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4) and second-degree Vehicular Homicide (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5).
The crash occurred at approximately 2:33 a.m. on Sunday, February 2, when law enforcement responded to a two-vehicle collision on Route 80 West in Rockaway Township. Investigators determined that a Mercedes SUV driven by Peters had been traveling east in the westbound lanes and struck a 2024 Ford pickup truck traveling west.
The driver of the pickup truck, Destinn McKnight, 31, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, died at the scene. McKnight was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Peters, the sole occupant of the Mercedes, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment. He exhibited signs of impairment at the scene, which led to the charges against him.
Prosecutor Carroll credited the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the New Jersey State Police for their work on the investigation. Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa DiSturco and Assistant Prosecutor Alexander Bennett tried the case in court.
