Seton Hall student Siddartha Surapanani, 18, of Belle Mead, has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal July 27 motor vehicle crash in Raritan.
Following the crash, Surapanani was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, according to court records.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Surapanani is a sophomore biology major in SHU’s joint B.S./M.D. program who describes himself as “driven by a passion for medicine, research, and service.”
At approximately 6:29 a.m. on July 27, the Raritan Police Department responded to a two-vehicle collision in which a Genesis SUV, allegedly driven by Surapanani, ran a red light and struck the driver’s side of an Acura SUV, according to Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller.
The driver of the Acura, identified by Mueller as a Bridgewater woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Surapanani fled the scene on foot before being apprehended by Raritan police. He was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Investigators also received numerous reports that Surapanani had been driving "erratically" before the collision, including traveling in the wrong direction on Route 202 at times, Mueller said.
Mueller said Surapanani was served with a criminal complaint charging him with second-degree vehicular homicide on July 27 while hospitalized. Court records show he was additionally charged with second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death on July 28.
Prosecutors filed a motion for pretrial detention on July 31, according to court records. Upon his release from the hospital, Mueller said Surapanani would be lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing. No hearing date has been publicly listed.
Michael B. Roberts, Surapanani’s attorney, told The Setonian, “The Surapanani family offer their deepest sympathies and condolences for the tragic loss of life that occurred. Siddartha is an aspiring doctor and did not intend harm. The family requests privacy and understanding during this difficult time.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Surapanani is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Megan Pitt is the Editor-in-Chief of The Setonian. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
