A 19-year-old Cape May County man accused of driving under the influence and using his cellphone before a crash that killed a North Jersey man appeared emotional during a court appearance Wednesday.
Edward McVey was led into a Cape May County courtroom in handcuffs and leg shackles as he faced a judge in connection with the Oct. 1 crash that killed 56-year-old Michael DiTondo and seriously injured DiTondo’s friend.
The crash happened on Route 9 in Lower Township, where a small roadside memorial now stands.
Investigators say McVey was driving under the influence when his car rear-ended the victims’ vehicle, causing it to flip over and eject both men. According to court documents, McVey told police he had been using his cellphone while driving and was not paying attention to the road.
McVey is charged with vehicular homicide and assault by auto.
Judy Czyzewski, who lives near the crash scene, reacted to McVey becoming visibly upset in court.
“Of course he will cry. They don’t think about that until something already happened,” Czyzewski said.
DiTondo lived in Blairstown in Warren County, NJ, and worked as a service manager at Maplecrest Ford in Mendham. His boss, Don Duncan, said DiTondo had a passion for classic cars and was in Cape May County for a car event.
“Everybody is just floored. Until it happens to you and hits home, very tough thing,” Duncan said.
Duncan said DiTondo’s death has been difficult for his colleagues.
“He was probably one of the nicest guys everybody here had ever met,” Duncan said.
The deadly crash happened just days before the Jersey Shore-based Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers learned it would receive a new $500,000 federal grant. The nonprofit plans to use the funding to expand its police patrol car program and message across the country.
“We’ll be able to wrap at least 125 more hero cars than we have now,” Hero Campaign Chairman and CEO Bill Elliott said. “it’ll be a constant reminder to motorists to make sure they get a safe ride home.”
Members of McVey’s family attended the court appearance but did not want to speak on camera. Before the hearing, McVey’s father told NBC10 Jersey Shore reporter Ted Greenberg that his son is a good kid who made a “catastrophic decision.”
McVey’s detention hearing was postponed until next week. He will remain in jail for now.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
