OLD BRIDGE, NJ—On July 18, Sergio Seixeiro, a 40-year-old man from Monroe, was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, and three counts of Assault by Auto after being involved in a fatal crash that resulted in the death of Ciara Gee, a 20-year-old woman from Raleigh, North Carolina.

The fatal crash took place that day at 4:28am on Route 9 South near Texas Road and was immediately investigated following the report of a serious motor vehicle collision.

Officers located a Toyota Echo containing four occupants with varying injuries. Gee was pronounced dead at the scene.

Seixeiro, who was driving a Ford Expedition and did not sustain any serious injuries, was also issued a motor vehicle summons for Driving While Intoxicated.

According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, “An initial investigation by Officer Steve Connolly of the Old Bridge Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined Seixiero’s truck impacted the rear of the Toyota Echo.”

“At this time, speed, reckless driving and intoxication are believed to be contributing factors,” reads the press release.

Currently, Seixeiro is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center where he is being held pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.

According to State Police statistics, this was the third fatal crash on Route 9 in Old Bridge so far this year. New Brunswick Today previously reported on a pair of crashes that killed men on April 3 and April 20.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, “Old Bridge Police Officer Christopher Hammel detected signs of impairment and intoxication of Seixeiro. Standardized Field sobriety tests were conducted, and Seixeiro was placed under arrest.”

“A blood draw was was sought and subsequently authorized by Honorable Judge Joseph Paone of the Middlesex county superior court,” reads the affidavit.

Furthermore, authorities say a witness was located on scene and that the witness indicated a car matching the description of Seixeiro’s was speeding past her shortly before the crash occurred.

According to North Carolina Central University’s Student Government Association (NCCU SGA), Gee was a junior kinesiology major who was studying toward a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in sports medicine. Her ultimate goal was to become a physical therapist.

“Today we honor a fallen Eagle Ciara Gee, 20, a junior kinesiology major. Ciara passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021, in a tragic car accident. Please keep Ciara and her loved ones – in your prayers,” their tweet said.

She is survived by her father—who is currently hospitalized—as well as her mother, stepfather, and brother. NCCU is providing grief counseling to students who need it.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help Gee’s father, Jerry Gee, who was driving the car and is currently in the ICU recovering from broken vertebrae and ribs, a gash in the head and a torn aorta, the page states. Darnika, a family friend, also sustained injuries due to the crash.

Local Editor at New Brunswick Today | hcafarella@nb.today

Haley Cafarella is a passionate journalist and content developer. She is currently creating content for IFPG, a franchise broker network, and writes articles for its franchise news site, FranchiseWire. In addition to contributing to New Brunswick Today, the Rutgers University journalism graduate has also written for The Buttonwood Tree, the Trenton Monitor, and Quo Vadis, Middlesex College's student newspaper.

Haley Cafarella is a passionate journalist and content developer. She is currently creating content for IFPG, a franchise broker network, and writes articles for its franchise news site, FranchiseWire. In addition to contributing to New Brunswick Today, the Rutgers University journalism graduate has also written for The Buttonwood Tree, the Trenton Monitor, and Quo Vadis, Middlesex College's student newspaper.