Hasbrouck Heights Driver Sentenced To Six Years Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act After Drunken, High-Speed Crash On Interstate 80 Killed Hillside Passenger

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 7:30 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

TEANECK, NJ.- A Bergen County man will spend years behind bars after a Superior Court judge sentenced him for a drunken-driving crash that killed his passenger on Interstate 80 in 2024.

     Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that Julio C. Guerrero-Brito, 41, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, was sentenced on February 27, 2026, in Bergen County Superior Court to six years in New Jersey State Prison following his conviction for vehicular homicide.

     The fatal crash resulted in the death of Richard M. Bahamonte, 37, of Hillside, New Jersey, who was riding as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

     The sentence was imposed by The Honorable James M. Doyle, J.S.C., and is subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA). Under that statute, Guerrero-Brito must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Fatal Interstate 80 Crash;

     According to investigators, the case stems from a single-vehicle crash that occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday, February 24, 2024, along Interstate 80 eastbound in Teaneck, New Jersey.

     At approximately 3:08 a.m., New Jersey State Police responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle accident on the highway.

     When troopers and emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered a 2022 Honda Accord that had sustained severe damage and was positioned perpendicular across two lanes of traffic.

     Authorities identified the driver as Julio C. Guerrero-Brito, who was found asleep in the driver’s seat when first responders approached the vehicle.

     Inside the car, emergency personnel located a passenger, later identified as Richard M. Bahamonte. Bahamonte was unconscious and had no detectable pulse.

Life-Saving Measures Unsuccessful;

     New Jersey State Troopers immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other emergency life-saving efforts at the scene.

     Despite those attempts, paramedics ultimately pronounced Bahamonte deceased at the crash site.

     Investigators subsequently determined that the Honda Accord had been traveling at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle struck a concrete barrier along the right shoulder of Interstate 80, causing the car to spin and come to rest perpendicular across the roadway lanes.

     Further investigation revealed that Guerrero-Brito had been operating the vehicle while intoxicated.

     Authorities determined the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .156 percent, which is nearly double New Jersey’s legal limit of .08 percent.

Guilty Plea Entered In 2025;

     Following the investigation and the filing of criminal charges, Guerrero-Brito appeared in Bergen County Superior Court on December 1, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree vehicular homicide.

     Prosecutors stated the charge was based on the defendant recklessly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the death of his passenger.

     Vehicular homicide is considered a second-degree offense under New Jersey law, carrying a potential sentence of five to ten years in state prison when a death results from reckless driving.

Sentence Imposed Under NERA;

     At the February 27, 2026, sentencing hearing, Judge Doyle imposed a six-year prison sentence, which will require Guerrero-Brito to serve the majority of the term before becoming eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.

     The prosecution in the case was handled by Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Bollenbach of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

     Support services for the victim’s family were provided by Victim Advocate Susan Tanis, also of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Preventable Tragedy;

     Authorities have emphasized that the crash highlights the continued dangers posed by drunk driving and excessive speed, particularly during overnight hours when impaired driving incidents often occur.

     The loss of Richard M. Bahamonte serves as a stark reminder of the life-altering consequences of driving under the influence, both for victims and the families left behind.

     With sentencing now complete, Guerrero-Brito will begin serving his prison term within the New Jersey Department of Corrections system.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Art Fletcher and is based on official information released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and details presented during proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court. Englebrook Independent News reports on criminal matters using verified law enforcement statements and court records to ensure accuracy and transparency for readers.