The New York Jets and cornerback Brandin Echols are being sued over a car crash near the team’s training facility in Florham Park two years ago that injured an Essex County man.
Stephen J. Gilberg, of Livingston, states in court papers he was driving east on Columbia Turnpike (County Road 510) near Airport Road on April 26, 2022, when Echols collided with him at a high rate of speed.
Echols, 26, lost control and collided with Gilberg’s car, sending it to the right side of the road where it struck a curb and “catapulted into the air, striking and going over the guardrail, overturning and landing upside down in a marshy area,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit, filed Friday in Superior Court of Morris County, states Echols was arrested and charged with multiple violations, including speeding and reckless driving.
The lawsuit alleges Echols has a history of reckless driving and claims the Jets was negligent in conducting a proper background check on Echols before allowing him to drive, alleging endangering other motorists.
“New York Jets LLC did not exercise reasonable care in hiring defendant, Echols, as one of its players in that they failed to conduct the proper motor vehicle and/or criminal history checks and/or reference checks,” the suit alleges.
A spokesperson for the Jets and Echols did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for comment on the suit.
The Daily Record reported police arrived after the crash to find Echols’ black 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat disabled in the eastbound lanes of the turnpike, and Gilberg’s black BMW X5 on its roof in a marsh about 50 feet from the roadway.
Gilberg was seriously injured, hospitalized and continues to require medical care and treatment, according to the suit.
During a court hearing on Feb. 28, 2023, Echols entered a pretrial intervention program for three years, according to the The Daily Record report.
Gilberg and his wife, Cheryl, are suing Echols, the New York Jets, the New Jersey Department of Transportation and other entities, alleging assault by auto and negligence.
The suit also claims the state Department of Transportation was negligent in the design and installment of curbs and guardrails along the crash site. A state spokesman said the DOT does not comment on pending litigation.
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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
