An off-duty Elizabeth police officer previously accused of drunken driving in a crash that killed a motorcyclist on Halloween night now also faces charges of vehicular homicide.Romulo Meneses-Alvarez, 30, was driving a Jeep Wrangler on Oct. 31 near Elizabeth's Carteret Park when he struck the motorcycle, killing 29-year-old Jairo Lozano, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office in the statement.
In addition to driving while intoxicated, Meneses-Alvarez had previously received citations for careless driving and failing to yield the right of way.
Police Chief John Brennan said Meneses-Alvaraz's employment status with the department is under review.
"We're just getting to that point right now," Brennan said. "We haven't gotten that far yet."
Meneses-Alvarez joined the Elizabeth police in 2015 after serving at the Union County Sheriff's Office. His annual salary is $57,779, according to state pension records.
The case was transferred from the Union County Prosecutor's Office to Middlesex County last month due to a potential conflict of interest. Officials, however, have declined to elaborate.
Lozano, of Elizabeth, was pronounced dead at Trinitas Regional Medical Center after the 11:20 p.m. crash at the intersection of Elmora Avenue and Vine Street, prosecutors have said. Meneses-Alvarez was uninjured.
In addition to driving while intoxicated, Meneses-Alvarez had previously received citations for careless driving and failing to yield the right of way.
Police Chief John Brennan said Meneses-Alvaraz's employment status with the department is under review.
"We're just getting to that point right now," Brennan said. "We haven't gotten that far yet."
Meneses-Alvarez joined the Elizabeth police in 2015 after serving at the Union County Sheriff's Office. His annual salary is $57,779, according to state pension records.
The case was transferred from the Union County Prosecutor's Office to Middlesex County last month due to a potential conflict of interest. Officials, however, have declined to elaborate.
Lozano, of Elizabeth, was pronounced dead at Trinitas Regional Medical Center after the 11:20 p.m. crash at the intersection of Elmora Avenue and Vine Street, prosecutors have said. Meneses-Alvarez was uninjured.