New Jersey

NJ Driver Who Killed Toddler While On Heroin Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison: Prosecutors

Ronald Rebernik, 62, of Raritan, was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges including vehicular homicide and assault by auto, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said

What to Know

  • A New Jersey driver who mowed down a family while he was high on heroin has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said
  • Ronald Rebernik, 62, of Raritan, was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges including vehicular homicide and assault by auto
  • A 1-year-old boy was killed and his mother and brother were seriously injured when they were hit, authorities said

A New Jersey driver who mowed down a family while he was high on heroin — killing a toddler — has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.

Ronald Rebernik, 62, of Raritan, was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges including vehicular homicide and assault by auto, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Rebernik was driving his 2004 Ford Escape south on Anderson in Raritan on July 7 of last year when he crossed to the northbound side, hit two parked vehicles, left the road and kept traveling southbound on the sidewalk, authorities said. 

That's when he hit a woman pushing her 1-year-old son in a stroller with her 5-year-old son behind her, killing the infant and seriously injuring the five-year-old boy and his mother, prosecutors said. 

Rebernick then allegedly kept going south on the sidewalk, got back onto the road and hit two more parked vehicles on the northbound side of Anderson Street before his vehicle stopped. 

Rebernick was on heroin when he hit the family, prosecutors said. 

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