Atlantic County Charges Maher with Manslaughter

MAYS LANDING — Authorities charged a Court House man with aggravated manslaughter Friday, March 20 in connection with a March 7 drunk driving collision in Hamilton Township.
According to Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel, Matthew J. Maher, 24, was arrested for allegedly causing the death of Hort Kap, 55, of Philadelphia. Maher was transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $250,000 cash, bond, or property bail. As another condition of bail he must surrender his passport, Prosecutor Housel said.
It is alleged that at 2:51 a.m. on March 7, Maher was traveling at a high rate of speed east on the Atlantic City Expressway when his sport utility vehicle crashed into Kap’s minivan. Kap was partially ejected from his vehicle and was declared dead at the scene.
Maher surrendered to the State Police at the Atlantic City Expressway Station Friday morning. Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collisions Unit Detective Kevin Hincks, Trooper Aaron Abbate and Detective Sgt. Robert Coia of the State Police formally processed Maher on the charges.
This morning Maher went before Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio for his initial appearance. The judge advised him of his rights. Maher’s attorney waived a reading of the complaint, said Assistant Prosecutor Curt Baker, who handled the State’s case.
New Jersey State Police charged Maher with Driving While Intoxicated after the crash and he was released on a motor vehicle complaint. Other motor vehicle charges are pending.
Maher and his passenger Michael V. Filachek, 26, of Philadelphia, declined medical treatment the morning of the crash. Maher was given field sobriety tests and later had blood drawn at Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton to determine his Blood Alcohol Content. The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Unit and Crime Scene Investigations Unit processed the scene. A member of the Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collisions Unit also responded to the scene and worked with the troopers.
Aggravated manslaughter is a crime of the first-degree and upon conviction carries with it a penalty of 10 to 30 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.