Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo, Merchantville Police Chief Wayne Bauer and Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey reported a Pennsauken man pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with a motor vehicle crash that killed a mother and her daughter in Merchantville.
Keith A. Johnson, 33, acknowledged traveling between 70 and 100 mph in a 25-mph zone when his Dodge Durango collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey at Chapel and Russell avenues around 3:40 p.m. on January 31, 2013.
The driver of the Odyssey, Anaida Medina, 36, and her daughter, Stephanie Garcia, 18, both of Cherry Hill, were killed in the crash. A passenger in Johnson’s vehicle, a then-26-year-old Pennsauken woman, was hospitalized with numerous serious injuries, but survived.
The investigation revealed Johnson’s northbound Durango was in an oncoming lane of traffic at the time of the crash. Forensic testing found Johnson had significant levels of PCP in his blood and urine. Johnson did not dispute these findings in court.
Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and one count of second-degree assault by auto. He faces a sentence of between 22 and 27 years in state prison. He will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15 before Superior Court Judge Samuel D. Natal.
Released Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
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