Azel Hernandez Vargas received three traffic summonses but no criminal charges. Watch video
SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A driver in a New Year's Day crash was cited because his 13-year-old sister, who died in the accident, wasn't wearing a seat belt, police said.
Azel Hernandez Vargas, 27, of Toms River, received three traffic summonses Friday in the crash that killed his sister, Blanca Azucena Hernandez Vargas, according to Captain James Ryan of the South Brunswick Police Department. But no criminal charges will be filed in the case.
Vargas was also cited for running a red light and for going straight in a left turn only lane.
"The investigators determined that the motor vehicle violation, going through the traffic light, was the entire aspect of the offense," Ryan said. "There wasn't any speed or drugs or alcohol or other conduct."
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The crash critically injured two other backseat passengers, Cirilo Velazquez-Roja, 21, and Ilda Hernandez. Sarah Zollner, 19, a front-seat passenger, was treated for injuries that were not life threatening.
Police said that Vargas was driving early New Year's Day in the jughandle to Deans Lane when he ran a red light at the Route 1 intersection, causing a collision with a Nissan Quest driving north. Vargas was using a cellphone to help navigate, but using it as a hands-free device, police said. When it fell to the floor of the car, Vargas started looking for it, which contributed to the crash, police said.
The occupants of the Nissan Quest that hit the Sentra -- driver Paramjit Singh, 59, front passenger Rajinder Kaur, 59, and rear passenger Harinder Kaur, 32, all of North Brunswick -- were treated and later released.
The tickets run from $150 to $250 each, Ryan said.
Speed was not a factor in the crash, police said.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.