Mays Landing Man Sentenced for Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old Boy
A Mays Landing man was sentenced yesterday for a fatal 2011 collision.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain says William Liepe, 62, was sentenced to 32 years in prison in connection with the three car crash that claimed the life of a 9-year-old Hammonton boy, and seriously injured a father and son.
On April 10, 2011, at 12:58 p.m., the Hamilton Township Police responded to Cologne Avenue, Mays Landing, for reported a three-car motor vehicle collision.
On April 10, 2011, at 12:58 p.m., the Hamilton Township Police responded toCologne Avenue, Mays Landing, for reported a three-car motor vehicle collision.The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collision Unit also responded.Investigation determined that Liepe, of the 3000 block of Cologne Avenue in Mays Landing, was operating a motor vehicle south on Cologne Avenue when he rear - ended a vehicle driven by Max Guzman, 35, of Hammonton, while Guzman, with two child passengers in the car,was attempting to make a left - hand turn off Cologne Avenue to the athletic fields located behind the fire department.The impact from Liepe’s vehicle caused Guzman’s car to enter the northbound lane and get struck by a third vehicle, a sport utility vehicle driven by Rosa Vazquez, 38, of Egg Harbor Township, with her mother and two child passengers in the vehicle.Guzman and his 11- year - old son of the same name, who was the front-seat passenger,were transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center — City Campus, AtlanticCity, for treatment of injuries received in the crash.Guzman’s rear - seat passenger, nine-year-old Ryan Schleyer, of Hammonton, was pronounced dead at the scene.Rosa Vazquez and her three passengers: 15-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, and her mother were transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—Mainland Campus, for evaluation and treatment.The driver and children were found to be uninjured and were released; the driver’s mother, also named Rosa Vasquez, 71, of Pleasantville, was admitted to the hospital with a shoulder injury.Liepe was transported AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—Mainland Campus, then transferred to the City Division Trauma Unit in Atlantic Cityfor treatment of injuries, from which he was later released.On February 28, 2012, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Liepe on seven criminal counts:*Aggravated Manslaughter — a 1st degree crime,*Vehicular Homicide — 2nd degree,*Two (2) counts of Aggravated Assault, recklessly causing serious bodily injuryunder circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of humanlife —2nd degree,*Two (2) counts of Assault by Auto, causing serious bodily injury — 3rd degree, and*Assault by Auto,causing bodily injury — a 4th degree crime.
On March 18, 2015, after a 10 - day trial before Judge Albert J.Garofolo, the juryreturned its verdict of guilty on all charges.