N.J. Police Officer Who Was Driving High to Work Kil*ed a Married Couple in Parkway Crash
Investigators said John P. McClave was under the influence of THC during the 2021 crash
A former police officer in New Jersey has been convicted in connection with a tragic crash that claimed the lives of a married couple. Authorities say the incident occurred while he was driving to work, leading to devastating consequences.
John P. McClave III of Toms River, N.J., was found guilty by a jury of two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide after a weeklong trial in Ocean County Superior Court, according to a release by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
McClave, 38, was on his way to work on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, when the crash occurred on Asbury Avenue near the Garden State Parkway overpass.
Angel L. Acevedo, Jr., 40, and his wife, Daniela Correia Salles, 35, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. McClave was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said McClave was driving recklessly at the time of the crash. His vehicle did not slow down or change direction after it left Garden State Parkway lanes, resulting in the vehicle becoming airborne upon hitting an embankment, ultimately striking the victims’ vehicle.
Investigators said McClave was under the influence of an intoxicating substance at the time of the crash. A blood sample from McClave tested positive for THC, a substance found in marijuana, authorities said, per reports from NJ.com, The Asbury Park Press, and The Associated Press. His blood alcohol level was below the state limit, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
McClave faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in state prison. According to prosecutors, 85% of his sentence must be served before the possibility of parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA). McClave’s sentencing is tentatively set for Friday, May 8, 2026.
