Glenwood man arrested in fatal Wayne crash that killed three

BY ERIKA NORTON
WAYNE — A Glenwood man was arrested Tuesday night after a multi-car crash at a Wayne gas station that killed three people, according to Passaic County authorities.
Jason Vanderee, 29, allegedly drove a 2004 Honda Pilot into a Delta gas station on Route 23 northbound at about 8:46 a.m. Tuesday morning, hitting three other vehicles and killing a father and son and a gas station attendant.
Authorities say Jon Warbeck, 50, of Fair Lawn, and his son, a 17-year-old with the initials L.W., were hit while inside a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lovedeep Fatra, a 22-year-old gas station attendant from Pequannock, also was killed.
The occupants of the other vehicles hit, a 2016 Ford Transit T-250 van and a 2011 Nissan Rogue, all received medical treatment for minor injuries, authorities said.
Vanderee was transported to Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson for medical treatment. Police said a preliminary investigation revealed that Vanderee was driving at an excessive speed at the time of the crash.
Vanderee was believed to have been overdosing on drugs at the time of the crash, law enforcement sources told NBC New York. He was given naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of opiate overdoses more commonly known as Narcan, at the scene, according to NBC New York.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, police said, and more information will be released once it becomes available.
The chargesVanderee was arrested on Tuesday evening in relation to the crash and is charged with:
three counts of first degree aggravated manslaughter,
three counts of first degree death by auto while driving intoxicated within 1,000 feet of school property,
three counts of second degree death by auto, and
third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
He is also charged with possession of hypodermic needles and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
Vanderee is scheduled to appear at Central Judicial Processing on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. According to a news release, the state intends to file a motion for pretrial detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office is asking anyone with additional information about this incident to contact their tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Wayne Police Department Traffic Division at 973-694-0600.