An 18-year-old Red Bank man has been charged with vehicular homicide following an automobile crash in Middletown that killed a passenger in his car two months ago.
Adam Sofio was already facing drunk driving, speeding and other charges in the aftermath of the crash that killed Middletown’s Paul Bradley, also 18, in the early morning hours of February 27, the prosecutor’s office says in a press release issued Monday.
Here’s the full press release:
On May 9, 2011, Adam Sofio, 18 of Red Bank, New Jersey was arrested and charged
with Vehicular Homicide within a 1000 feet of a school zone and Assault by Auto within a 1000
feet of a school zone, in connection with a motor vehicle collision that occurred on February 27,
2011 in Middletown, New Jersey. Sofio voluntarily surrendered before the Honorable Thomas
F. Scully, P.J.Cr. Judge Scully set bail at $200,000.
The arrest of Adam Sofio was the result of a two-month investigation by the Monmouth
County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau and the Middletown Township Police
Department. The investigation revealed that on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at approximately
2:05 a.m., Sofio was driving his 1992 Honda Accord west on Cooper Avenue in Middletown
when he lost directional control of his vehicle, skidded off the left side of the roadway and struck
a tree on the passenger side of his vehicle. As a result of striking the tree, Sofio’s Accord split
into two pieces. Sofio’s front seat passenger, Paul Bradley, 18, of Middletown, New Jersey
sustained massive injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Sofio’s rear seat
passenger, John Vogel, 18, of Middletown, New Jersey suffered serious injuries and was
transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment. Vogel was later released.
The investigation further revealed that Sofio was driving substantially in excess of the
posted 25 mph speed limit on Cooper Road. A blood sample taken from Sofio revealed that his
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was substantially above the legal .08 BAC limit for
driving a vehicle. Sofio was under the 21 years of age at the time of the incident. Consequently,
any level of impairment above .01 BAC exceeds the legal limit to drive a vehicle in the State of
New Jersey.
Sofio was previously charged with motor vehicle summonses for Reckless Driving,
Driving While Intoxicated, Underage Driving While Intoxicated, Speeding, Failure to Maintain
Lane, and violating the conditions of his provisional license for carrying an excessive number of
passengers in his vehicle at the time of the collision and driving after the legal curfew of 11 p.m.
The Vehicular Homicide within a 1000 feet of a school zone charge, a first degree crime,
carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, subject to the No Early Release Act
(NERA) wherein he will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. The
Assault by Auto within a 1000 feet of a school zone charge, a second degree crime, carries a
maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, subject to NERA.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has of the trial rights
guaranteed by the United State Constitution and State law.
This case is assigned to First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher
Gramiccioni.
Defense counsel: Mitchell Ansell, Esq.
Ocean Township
Released: May 9, 2011
