Cop on his way to work becomes ‘airborne’ after driving GMC Canyon pickup off overpass and lands on married couple below

A New Jersey police officer has been convicted in a fatal crash that killed a married couple after his pickup truck left an elevated highway and slammed into their vehicle below.

John McClave III, 38, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case was tried in Ocean County Superior Court rather than Monmouth County because prosecutors cited a possible conflict of interest. The weeklong trial focused on a crash that occurred the evening of Oct. 9, 2021.

At the time, McClave was a Hillside Police Department officer driving to work shortly before 7 p.m. He was behind the wheel of a 2018 GMC Canyon traveling along the Garden State Parkway. About five miles from Newark, Angel Acevedo Jr., 40, and his wife, Daniela Salles, 35, were driving in a 2020 Toyota Corolla on Asbury Avenue below the parkway.

Prosecutors said McClave was operating his truck recklessly while under the influence of intoxicating substances.

Investigators determined the pickup left the parkway and struck an embankment without significantly slowing down or changing direction. The impact launched the truck into the air, sending it off the elevated roadway before it crashed directly onto the car driven by Acevedo.

Emergency responders from the Tinton Falls Police Department and the Wayside Fire Company arrived at the scene on Asbury Avenue near the parkway overpass shortly before 7:30 p.m. Authorities found both Acevedo and Salles suffering from severe injuries. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

McClave was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was treated for serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Following an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, McClave was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. The Tinton Falls Police Department immediately suspended him without pay.

While suspended and awaiting trial, McClave submitted a resignation letter from his position with the Hillside Police Department. The resignation took effect Aug. 8, 2023, according to a disciplinary report.

He now faces a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years under New Jersey law. Because of the state’s No Early Release Act, he would be required to serve 85 percent of any sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8.

In an obituary, friends and family remembered Acevedo and Salles as a couple who enjoyed simple moments together. They often spent time hiking local trails and appreciating nature, and they regularly hosted gatherings or traveled to see loved ones. Those who knew them described the couple as kind, positive, and full of humor.

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