A tractor-trailer driver was caught laughing after he intentionally plowed into another truck on the New Jersey Turnpike last month, killing its driver, police said.
Joseph Nyandwaro, 41, of Pearland, Tex., is facing second-degree counts of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in connection with the death of Osman Aden, a 40-year-old from Minnesota.
Nyandwaro is also charged with fourth-degree tampering with evidence in connection with the crash on June 22. According to an affidavit obtained by NJ.com, he was driving northbound on the Turnpike in Gloucester when he intentionally struck Aden’s freightliner tractor-trailer, around 7:30 p.m. The suspect was also “observed ramming him into the left concrete barrier, and laughing about it as he drove away,” police said in the affidavit, citing video taken inside of the truck.
Aden’s vehicle then crossed the roadway and struck several trees on the other side before coming to a stop. He died shortly thereafter from injuries he sustained, police said.
Following the crash, Nyandwaro fled, leaving the highway by way of the nearest exit at Interchange 2, police said. They later found his vehicle with paint on it matching that on Arden’s vehicle. There was also evidence to suggest Nyandwaro attempted to cover up the crash, police said.
According to the affidavit, he applied duct tape to his vehicle and used cleaning solution in an apparent bid to remove evidence.
Nyandwaro surrendered to authorities earlier this week and remained behind bars as of Thursday.
