Camden Man Sentenced To 11 Years In State Prison For Fleeing The Scene Of Crash That Killed A 43-Year-Old Woman

Thursday, August 1, 2024, 3:00 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ.- Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone reported that on Monday, July 29, 2024, Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, New Jersey, appeared in Middlesex County Superior Court and was sentenced in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on February 25, 2023, that claimed the life of a 43-year-old East Windsor, New Jersey woman.

     According to authorities, on February 25, 2023, shortly before 10:00 p.m., members of the South Brunswick Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 130 and Route 32 in the Township.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers found Kerri Lynn Shea, 43, of East Windsor, New Jersey, unconscious and trapped inside her car. Ms. Shea was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and ultimately died from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene prior to police arriving at the scene.

     An extensive investigation conducted and led by Bryan Sites of the South Brunswick Township Police Department and Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, New Jersey, was the driver of the Mitsubishi Lancer that collided with Ms. Shea’s vehicle. Detectives further uncovered that Gaines-Little was driving at a high rate of speed when he ran a red light and collided with Ms. Shea’s car.

     Following the collision, Gaines-Little jumped out of the car and fled on foot, leaving his injured passenger in the car. At the time of the crash, Gaines-Little was driving the motor vehicle while being unlicensed. 

     At the conclusion of the investigation, Gaines-Little was located and taken into custody on January 29, 2024, and formally charged.

     On April 12, 2024, Gaines-Little appeared in Middlesex County Superior Court and pleaded guilty to the charges of second-degree Vehicular Homicide; and second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death.

     On Monday, Gaines-Little once again appeared in Middlesex County Superior Court and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Buck, J.S.C., to five years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act, which will require Gaines-Little to serve 85% of his custodial sentence before becoming eligible for parole on the charge of vehicular homicide. 

     For the charge of knowingly leaving the scene of the crash, Gaines-Little was sentenced to a consecutive term of six years in prison, for a total of 11 years in State Prison. Following his release from prison, Gaines-Little will be subject to an additional 3 years of parole supervision.