33-year-old Bassirou “Bass” Diaite of Hamburg was one of two people who died in the two-car crash Aug. 5 on Route 15. A tow truck driven by 30-year-old Joseph Crilley of Hampton slammed into a Honda Civic with Diaite in the back seat. The driver of the Honda, James Ziniewicz of Newton, died at the scene.
Diaite was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center, where he died 26 days after the accident.
Police said Crilley was high on drugs, including fentanyl, at the time of the crash. The suit filed by Diaite’s family names Crilley, the estate of Ziniewicz, and the trucking company. The suit accuses both drivers of having driven their vehicles recklessly, and said the company and its owner did not instruct Crilley in how to operate the truck safely.
Crilley is also facing six criminal charges in connection with the crash, including two counts of vehicular homicide.
Another passenger in the Honda who was injured in the crash has filed her own lawsuit against Crilley and the company, West Jersey Enterprises.
The New Jersey accident attorneys of Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers provide these blog posts to keep our neighbors informed about collisions and accidents across the Garden State. They should not be construed as legal advice. However, if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident and someone else is at fault, we would like to discuss your case with you. Contact us today to begin a free, no-obligation consultation.
Written by: Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Last Updated : November 29, 2021
