LOWER TOWNSHIP, Cape May County, N.J., Oct. 2, 2026 — A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal DUI crash that happened on Thursday, October 1, on Route 9 in the Erma section of Lower Township, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office. A 56-year-old man died, and a 36-year-old man was seriously hurt.
Detectives identified the man taken into custody as Edward McVey, 19; he faces charges of second-degree vehicular homicide, third-degree assault by auto and fourth-degree assault by auto, all tied to alleged impaired driving.
Details on how the crash unfolded have not been released. The surviving victim's condition has not been publicly updated since the office reported serious injuries.
The case remains under investigation. Prosecutors are asking anyone with information to submit an anonymous tip through the office's website or call its investigators directly. If convicted, McVey faces a state prison term of five to 10 years.
Our sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life.
When Impaired-Driving Crashes Are Most Likely to Happen
Alcohol and drug-related crashes cluster around certain hours more than people expect. Late evening through the early morning hours see a larger share of impaired driving, in part because that's when bars and gatherings close and fewer sober drivers are on the road to help compensate for one impaired driver's mistakes.
Weekend nights carry extra risk. Friday and Saturday nights into the early hours of Saturday and Sunday see more impaired drivers on the road than weeknights, and darkness itself narrows a driver's field of vision and reaction time even before alcohol or drugs are a factor.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities decreased 7.6 percent from 13,458 in 2022 to 12,429 in 2023. The drop suggests enforcement and awareness efforts can move the numbers, even though impaired driving remains a steady presence on roads at night and on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does impairment from drugs other than alcohol affect driving the same way?
Yes. Marijuana, prescription medications, and illegal drugs can each slow reaction time, impair judgment, and reduce coordination, and some combine with alcohol to compound the effect.
What are common signs of an impaired driver on the road?
Weaving between lanes, driving well under or over the speed limit, delayed braking, and erratic turns or lane changes are common signs cited by law enforcement.
How does alcohol affect a driver's ability to react?
Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows peripheral vision, and reduces a driver's ability to judge speed and distance, even at levels below the legal limit.
What time of day do impaired-driving crashes happen most?
These crashes are more common at night, particularly late evening into early morning hours and on weekends.
What to Do After a DUI Crash in Lower Township, NJ
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a suspected impaired-driving crash should call 911 right away and stay at the scene until officers arrive. Seeking a medical evaluation is important even for injuries that seem minor at first, since some symptoms take hours or days to appear.
Cooperating with the responding agency's investigation, including giving a statement if asked, helps build an accurate record of what happened. Residents of Lower Township with information about this case can also submit tips anonymously through the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office rather than waiting to be contacted.
