Prosecutors: Brick Man Drove 103mph in Wrong Lane, Causing Fatal Accident

Brian Baldari (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A Brick Township man is accused of driving 103 m.p.h. in the wrong lane of Route 70, leading to a crash that claimed the life of a Manchester man, prosecutors said Monday. The driver in the case, Brian Baldari, 47, of Brick Township, was charged this week with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and assault by auto.

The crash occurred on Route 70 near the intersection with Airport Road on March 7, 2025 at about 5:50 a.m., according to a statement issued by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Responding Officers determined that the crash involved a total of eight vehicles and was allegedly caused by a Cadillac CT5 Blackwing – operated by Baldari – traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of Route 70.

The Cadillac collided head-on with a Mazda CX-5 being operated by Edwin Borja, 66, of Manchester, and subsequently struck additional vehicles before coming to rest.  The Cadillac then caught fire with Baldari trapped inside. Baldari was extracted from the vehicle and airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, and subsequently transported to Weill Cornell Medicine Burn Center in New York City, where he was treated and ultimately released.

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Borja was also airlifted to Jersey Shore, and died March 18 due to the injuries he sustained in the crash.  The driver of one of the other vehicles involved in the crash was taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township where he was treated and subsequently released. The drivers of the remaining vehicles involved in the crash were uninjured.

“Continuing investigation has revealed that Baldari was traveling at a speed of approximately 103 miles-per-hour in the incorrect lane of travel for approximately two miles before he crashed into Mr. Borja’s vehicle,” Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. “As such, Baldari was charged accordingly as set forth above, and he surrendered himself to Lakewood Township Police Headquarters today. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.”