Driver in drug-related crash that killed infant gets 15 years in prison

RARITAN, N.J. (AP) - A driver who was high on heroin when he struck three people on a sidewalk, killing an infant and seriously injuring the child's mother and 5-year-old brother, is headed to prison.

Ronald Rebernik received a 15-year sentence Thursday. The 62-year-old Raritan man had pleaded guilty in December to vehicular homicide, assault by auto and drug counts stemming from the July 2018 accident in Raritan.

Somerset County prosecutors say Rebernik's SUV crossed into opposing traffic and struck two parked cars before hitting the victims. He then re-entered the roadway and hit two more parked cars before his vehicle became disabled.

The 36-year-old mother was pushing the infant in a stroller, while her other son walked beside her. The baby was flown to a hospital but died there a short time later.