EDISON, NJ—Joel Patrone, a 22-year-old man from Edison, was killed in a one-car crash on Old Post Road on February 18, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO).

The driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Mandeep Singh, also of Edison, was charged with driving while intoxicated and death by auto.

The crash occurred near the intersection of Old Post Road and Preston Street, near Route 1 and the Shop-Rite grocery store.

Patrone was pronounced dead at 5:54 a.m. at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was taken after the crash, which occurred at 5:03 a.m.

Singh remained in the custody of authorities for one week after the crash, even as he recovered from his own injuries at the hospital.  He was taken to the Middlesex County jail on February 19, and was released on February 24.

Patrone was killed after the car driven by Singh “veered off the road and struck a tree,” according to a press release issued by the MCPO.

Another passenger in the car, a 22-year-old Edison woman, was also hospitalized at Robert Wood Johnson, according to the statement.

The crash is being investigated by Sgt. Michael Carter of the Edison Police Department and Detective Donald Heck of the MCPO.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan announced the fatal incident later that day in a statement issued to the media.

However, as a result of the MCPO’s blacklist against this newspaper, the release was not sent to any of our reporters.

The MCPO also violated their own apparent procedures by neglecting to post the press release regarding the death of Patrone on their official website.

However, this newspaper obtained the official statement through other means.

The investigation is “active” and “continuing,” according to the statement, which also requested the public’s assistance.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Michael Carter of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7400 or Detective Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-8842.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.