An ongoing investigation is taking place into a car accident that took the lives of two Union City women, Gloria Castaneda, 39, and Marisela Aguila, 42, as they were returning home at 1:30 a.m. last Sunday from their dishwashing jobs.
Carlos Alberto Quintero, 36, of North Bergen, a construction worker who has a past record with the Union City police, was charged with two counts of death by auto, as well as reckless driving and driving while under the influence, police said Monday.
Union City Police Det. Ruiz said that the last charge came about because police observed that Quintero was stumbling around after the accident. Police said they are awaiting results of a blood test, and that at least one of the women in Quintero’s vehicle was found to be in possession of crack cocaine.
“[Witnesses to the accident said that] they couldn’t believe that a man could be driving that fast in this congested city,” said Det. Ruiz at a press conference held on Monday at 3 p.m. in the third floor conference room of City Hall in Union City.
The two women resided in separate apartments at 2601 New York Ave. The crash occurred on Summit Avenue and 22nd Street in Union City.
Witnesses said that the 1999 black Porsche that collided into the red Acura Legend had been traveling at an estimated speed of 80 to 90 miles per hour. Summit Avenue has a 25 mile per hour speed limit.
Way home from work
The two women were on their way home from their job as dishwashers at Dobbs International Service in Newark, a catering company that supplies food for airplanes.
“I said to God, I hope this is a nightmare,” said Casteneda’s daughter-in-law, Veronica Morocho, at Monday’s press conference, about her reaction to finding out that her mother-in-law was dead. “Because I can’t believe this.”
Morocho described Castaneda as the happiest person she ever met.
“She was happy all the time,” said Morocho. “All the time.”
Lillian Orellana, 29, also of Union City, was driving the Acura. Orellana was the only one of the three women that wore her seat belt.
“She was wearing her seat belt,” said Det. Ruiz. “That is probably what saved her life.”
“The city is just devastated over it,” said Union City Mayor Brian Stack about the accident.
Allegedly ran three lights
According to police reports, Quintero ran approximately three red lights before crashing into the Acura on 22nd Street.
However, Quintero told police officers on the scene that the light was green and that he had the right of way. “This was found to be totally untrue,” said Ruiz, who said that police and witnesses to the accident all agreed that he ran the light.
After being hit by the Porsche, the Acura was thrown onto the sidewalk and into a utility pole. The pole collapsed onto the vehicle.
Quintero’s vehicle held three passengers, none of whom was injured.
“One woman was treated for superficial injuries [at Jersey City Medical Center],” said Ruiz. “She had minor cuts and bruises.”
While at the hospital, the woman was found with crack cocaine in her possession, police said. The police report said that police believed another woman in the car had gotten into Quintero’s vehicle after offering sexual favors in exchange for cocaine. But that woman left the scene after declining medical attention, police said.
Ambulances from Weehawken, North Bergen, Union City and the MIC Unit of Jersey City Medical Center all responded to the accident scene.
The victims were brought to Jersey City Medical Center, where Marisela Aguila was pronounced dead at 2:36 a.m. and Gloria Castaneda was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m.
Best of friends
Castaneda and Aguila were said to be best friends.
“They were together all the time,” said Morocho of the pair.
Castaneda had lived in the United States for the past 19 years after emigrating from Colombia.
Morocho said that Castaneda had come to this country in search of something better for her family, and they believe that she found it.
Aguila came to the United States from Cuba with her youngest son in January of 1999. Her eldest son had arrived in the country one year before.
Union City will offer counseling to the victims’ families. The Brian Stack Civic Association will be assisting at least one of the families with the funeral costs.