The driver allegedly speeding at the time he caused a three-car accident, killing a state-employed social worker from South Jersey, was indicted on vehicular homicide charges Wednesday, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors allege Stephen Sirch, 30, was speeding down the Black Horse Pike on April 3 when his SUV crashed into a car driven by Karina Castillo, of Pine Hill in Camden County.
Castillo’s vehicle was sent into coming traffic from the collision. It struck another vehicle head-on, killing Castillo, 29.
Sirch’s vehicle, according to an affidavit of probable cause, reached over 100 mph at the time of the crash.
Castillo, a new mother at the time, is survived by an infant daughter, her fiance and several other relatives. Formerly from Vineland in Cumberland County, she was employed by the New Jersey Department of Children and Family.
She was also licensed by the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, according to her obituary.
Police in Hamilton Township in Atlantic County were called to the crash on the Black Horse Pike around 2:15 p.m. April 3. Sirch, of Voorhees Township, was charged with vehicular manslaughter about three weeks later.
Sirch and the other driver — a 40-year-old woman — as well as two passengers in her car suffered minor injuries, police said.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
