By Michelle Lampariello & Emmy Liederman
Editor-in-Chief & Features Editor
Prosecutors have filed a detention motion against the man charged with assault and vehicular homicide in the aftermath of a car crash that prosecutors say killed 20-year-old Michael Sot, who was acting as a designated driver and operating the other vehicle involved in the crash, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
Ewing Township police announced Monday afternoon that David Lamar V, a 22-year-old man from West Windsor, New Jersey, is charged with seven counts of second-degree assault by auto following the collision early Sunday morning that seriously injured eight people, including five students. Vehicular homicide was added to Lamar's charges following Sot's death at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4. at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey.
Ryan Moore, a 21-year-old senior marketing major, is currently in critical condition and Danielle DeFlores, a 21-year-old senior biology major, is in stable condition, according to Kate Stier, director of public relations at Capital Health Medical Center.
Anthony Galante, a 19-year-old sophomore finance major remains at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania in critical condition.
Matthew DeGenova, a 21-year-old senior accounting major, has since been released from St. Mary Medical Center and transported to a rehabilitation facility near his home, according to a campus-wide email from Dave Muha, the College's spokesperson on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Lamar is currently being held in the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell, New Jersey. His detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at 400 S Warren Street in Trenton New Jersey, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
"J.F.," Lamar's passenger, "suffered a bladder injury that required surgery and multiple spinal fractures," according to NJ 1015.
Lamar was "driving under the influence" as he drove his black 2018 Kia Optima southbound on Pennington Road, prosecutors said. He crossed over the double yellow line, striking Sot's gray 2007 Dodge Charger that was traveling northbound at approximately 2:07 a.m. The Charger had six occupants — five of whom are students at the College.
According to an affidavit from the Mercer County Prosecutor's office, Lamar crossed the double yellow line because he was attempting to pass a car in front of him.
According to the Township of Ewing Police department, Lamar is also charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving, an unsafe lane change, improper passing in a no passing zone and failure to present a license, registration or insurance card.
Anyone with information concerning the crash is asked to contact Officers David Massi or Paul Digristina at 609-882-1313 or the Tip Line at 609-882-7530.
