ATLANTIC CITY — A man from Vineland is accused of causing a fatal crash while riding his motorcycle under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the death of a mother of three.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Joseph Melini, aged 50, has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide for the incident that occurred on October 30, 2021.
The crash took place around 8 p.m. on the 300 block of Delaware Avenue in Atlantic City, just before the road transitions into Absecon Boulevard near Mediterranean Avenue.
Melini was riding his 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle with a female passenger, identified as Naisha Peterson, aged 36.
During the accident, both Melini and Peterson were ejected from the motorcycle. Sadly, first responders pronounced Peterson, a resident of Mays Landing, dead at the scene, while Melini was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Prosecutors stated that their investigation revealed Melini was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Naisha Peterson, as mentioned in her obituary, was a mother to three children, including a daughter and two sons.
