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Brooklyn Driver Killed Mom, Two Young Sons After Illegal U-Turn
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 4, 2013
Modified Aug 4, 2013
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 4, 2013
Modified Aug 4, 2013
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A Pennsylvania woman and her two young sons were killed on Friday in a horrific car accident on a New Jersey highway, and cops say a Brooklyn driver hit her car while making an illegal U-turn.
Jamella Tisdale, 25, was riding with her family along Route 1 near Mercer County at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday when a tractor-trailer plowed into her SUV. Tisdale's vehicle was wedged under the tractor-trailer's bed and Tisdale was killed, along with her sons Jaevon Durante, 9, and Jaden, who was only 5-months-old. Tisdale's 8-year-old daughter, Mellady Durante, was taken to a nearby hospital, along with Shaqwan Tisdale, who is Jaden's father; they were listed in stable condition on Saturday. The family hails from Levittown, PA.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, 45-year-old Richard Williams, was arrested, charged with three counts of death by auto and is being held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Authorities say they don't believe alcohol, drugs or speeding were involved in the accident. "It appears like the truck driver was lost in the area," prosecutor Angelo Onofri told the Times of Trenton.
According to his website, Shaqwan Tisdale, 25, is an author, musician and life coach; the Times of Trenton reports the family was on their way to an awards event in his honor on Friday.
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