The driver of a car in a head-on collision that claimed the life of a Jersey City firefighter last year is being allowed to remain free until trial as long as he meets supervision conditions.
"This is an unfortunate case of a good kid, a good young man, and a few moments of a nightmare that cost his best friend's life," defense attorney Peter Willis said at today's detention hearing for Stephen A. Zadroga, 27, of Jersey City.
Zadroga is charged with aggravated manslaughter and death by auto after one of his passengers, Firefighter Matthew Nierstedt, 29, died as a result of the Nov. 16 crash on Paterson Plank Road in Jersey City. Zadroga is also charged with three counts of aggravated assault related to other passengers in the crash.