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Monday, February 2, 2015

Woman Convicted of Vehicular Homicide After 2012 Crash that Killed Husband

MAYS LANDING – A New Hampshire woman was convicted of vehicular homicide in connection with a 2012 single-vehicle crash in Pleasantville that claimed the life of her husband, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.
Today, an Atlantic County jury found Allison Hawks Nasta, 31, of the 300 block of Varney Street, Manchester, New Hampshire, guilty of vehicular homicide and two additional charges.
Shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2012, Nasta was driving her minivan westbound on the Black Horse Pike between Chestnut Avenue and Route 9 in Pleasantville, when she crossed two lanes of traffic and collided head-on with a utility pole.

Nasta’s husband, William Nasta, 34, who was the front-seat passenger, was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division, where he died of his injuries.
The couple’s two daughters, a 5-year-old and a 3-month-old—who was in an infant car seat—were in the backseat. Allison Nasta and the children sustained non-life threatening injuries and were also transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center— City Campus for treatment.
The investigation of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collision Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department led to Nasta’s arrest the next day at the hospital. Nasta was charged on criminal complaints with operating a motor vehicle while her driver’s license was suspended, resulting in the death of another person, hindering her own apprehension by providing a false name to investigators, obstruction of justice, and with numerous New Jersey motor vehicle law violations, including reckless driving, driving while suspended, and operating a motor vehicle while in possession of narcotics.
Nasta was released on the summon complaints.
On July 31, 2013, as a result of the continuing investigation, Nasta was charged by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office with vehicular homicide, by driving a vehicle recklessly and causing the death of William Nasta.
Bail was set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Kyran Connor at $50,000 full cash. Nasta subsequently posted bail, and has been free pending court.
On September 19, 2013, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Allison Hawks Nasta for vehicular homicide and additional criminal counts.

Today, after a six-day trial before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Albert Garofolo, an Atlantic County Grand Jury returned a guilty verdict for:
  • Vehicular homicide—a crime of the 2nd degree, 
  • Operating a motor vehicle while her driver’s license was suspended and causing a motor vehicle accident which resulted in serious bodily injury—a 3rd degree crime, and
  • Possession of heroin—a 3rd degree crime. 

Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy, who represented the State in the case, told the jury during his closing arguments that the State found opiates in Nasta’s system and observed her “21⁄2 hours [after the accident with] red eyes, slurred speech, nodding off.” 
Levy said, “I told you that this case was about priorities. About the defendant’s choices: to use drugs, to get high, and to drive...The evidence proves these facts again and again: Allison Nasta got high, drove recklessly—speeding across two lanes of traffic, and did not try to avoid slamming into a pole; in fact, she sped into it.” 
After the jury returned its verdict, and upon application by Assistant Prosecutor Levy, Judge Garofolo revoked Nasta’s bail and ordered her taken into custody and housed in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending sentencing. 
A second degree crime carries a potential penalty of incarceration in New Jersey State prison for a period of 5-10 years. The vehicular homicide conviction is subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring that 85% of the imposed prison sentence be served before becoming eligible for parole. A crime of the third degree carries a potential penalty of 3-5 years in prison. 
Nasta will be sentenced by Judge Garofolo on March 6, 2015. 
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County. 

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