The driver of a BMW that sped down a Princeton street and struck a Rabbi a got into a car parked along the road has been charged with death by auto.

Two of the cars involved in accident on Riverview Avenue in Princeton
Two of the cars involved in accident on Riverview Avenue in Princeton (Brian McCarthy)
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Princeton Police say 20-year-old Eric Maltz of Princeton crossed lanes and struck an unoccupied Toyota Camry which careened about 500 feet before striking the Toyota Prius Rabbi James Diamond was getting into on the passenger side as it was parked in front of the Riverview Elementary School.

The 74-year-old Diamond, the retired director of Princeton University's Center for Jewish Life, was struck and thrown away from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

Maltz remains hospitalized in stable condition. His bail is set at $100,000.

Police have not said how fast Maltz was driving on the road which has a posted speed limit of 25 MPH. "Right now our investigation shows that vehicle was traveling apparently at an excessive rate of speed. There doesn't show any signs of breaking right now," Captain Nick Sutter of the Princeton Police Department told WPVI TV.

Rabbi James Diamond
Rabbi James Diamond (Jewish Publication Society Blog)
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The driver of the Prius, 63-year-old Robert Freedman, is in stable condition at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

The crash remains under investigation.

A funeral for Diamond takes place at the Jewish Center on Nassau Street Princeton Sunday at 1PM according to the Princeton University For Jewish Life's website. Shiva will begin at the end of Passover; the first shiva minyan will be Tuesday, April 2 at 8:30pm

 

Photos & video courtesy Brian McCarthy.

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