TINTON FALLS, N.J. — A New Jersey police officer was convicted of vehicular homicide after his pickup truck left an elevated roadway, became airborne, and crashed into a married couple driving below, killing both victims.
John McClave III, 38, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide in Ocean County Superior Court, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced. The case was moved to Ocean County due to a potential conflict of interest. McClave, who worked for the Hillside Police Department, faces up to 20 years in state prison with 85 percent of the sentence to be served before parole eligibility under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
The fatal crash occurred on October 9, 2021, at approximately 7 p.m. as McClave was driving to work in his 2018 GMC Canyon pickup truck on the Garden State Parkway near Newark. According to prosecutors, McClave was driving recklessly while under the influence of intoxicating substances when his vehicle left the elevated roadway. The truck hit an embankment and became airborne, eventually landing on a 2020 Toyota Corolla traveling on Asbury Avenue below. Angel Acevedo Jr., 40, and his wife Daniela Salles, 35, were pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining multiple severe injuries. “The simplest pleasures in life brought Angel and Daniela great joy,” their obituary stated, describing a couple who loved exploring hiking trails and hosting gatherings for family and friends.
Emergency responders from the Tinton Falls Police Department and Wayside Fire Company arrived at the crash scene on Asbury Avenue near the Garden State Parkway overpass around 7:30 p.m. An investigation determined that McClave’s pickup truck did not change direction or slow down significantly after leaving the parkway lanes, according to a police discipline report. The vehicle struck the embankment and became airborne before crashing into the victims’ car. McClave was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation and filed charges against the off-duty officer.
Following the crash, the Tinton Falls Police Department immediately suspended McClave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. McClave had worked for the Hillside Police Department since 2008 and served as a school resource officer for the previous seven years before the incident. While suspended and awaiting trial, McClave submitted a letter of resignation from his position effective August 8, 2023, according to disciplinary records. The case represents a rare prosecution of a law enforcement officer for vehicular homicide while off-duty. New Jersey’s vehicular homicide statute requires proof that the defendant was driving recklessly and caused the death of another person.
The trial lasted one week in Ocean County Superior Court, where prosecutors presented evidence of McClave’s impaired driving and reckless behavior leading up to the crash. Court records and witness testimony detailed how the pickup truck left the elevated highway without any apparent attempt to brake or steer away from the embankment. The prosecution argued that McClave’s actions constituted criminal recklessness that directly caused the deaths of Acevedo and Salles. Defense attorneys had argued that the crash was an accident, but the jury ultimately found McClave guilty on both counts of second-degree vehicular homicide. The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence under state law, ensuring substantial prison time for the former officer.
McClave is scheduled for sentencing on May 8, where he could face up to 10 years in prison for each count of vehicular homicide. The couple’s family members are expected to provide victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing. Acevedo and Salles were remembered by friends and family as a loving couple who touched others with their kindness, humor, and positivity. The case highlights ongoing concerns about impaired driving among law enforcement officers and the accountability measures in place when officers commit serious crimes while off-duty.
