Edward Johnston, a 25-year-old from Galloway Township, has entered a guilty plea in connection with a tragic 2023 crash that resulted in the death of 8-year-old Javier Velez. As reported by NBC Philadelphia, Johnston admitted to aggravated manslaughter for his role in the high-speed incident that occurred in Absecon, New Jersey, claiming the life of the young boy sleeping in a parked car.
An investigation into the crash revealed Johnston was driving at an alarming speed of 107 miles per hour while under the influence, veering off White Horse Pike and colliding with Velez's vehicle, where he was resting as his father and brother fished nearby. The impact of this incident rippled through the community, prompting Kayla Smith, Velez's mother, to advocate for legal reform. "He finally decided to plead guilty to 15 years" but "15 years is not enough. But I also feel like if they told us 20 years, we would still feel that way," Smith told FOX 29.
In reflecting on the conviction and her son's legacy, Smith emphasized the importance of her son's story and the role it plays in discouraging impaired driving. "Encourage others to not drink and drive because it's a very real thing that happens way too often and no one cares about it until it's them or their loved ones," Smith said in an interview with FOX 29. Despite the outcome of the plea agreement, Johnston's sentencing is scheduled for May 13.
