Former New Jersey Meeting member Alberto Coutinho was killed Sunday in a automobile crash in Newark, the Essex County Prosecutor and Newark Public Security director mentioned.
The 56-year-old served within the state legislature for greater than 5 years. Authorties say the collision occurred at McCarter Freeway and South Avenue round 7:30 a.m.
“Al fought for job creation, leisure house and workforce reentry reforms, all of which helped strengthen our metropolis,” mentioned Mayor Ras Baraka (D-Newark). “Al was a central pillar of our Portuguese neighborhood, the Ironbound, and the town at massive.”
“Absolutely, the upcoming Portuguese Competition, and FIFA video games won’t be the identical with out this beloved neighborhood large,” Baraka added.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) praised Coutinho as “an expensive buddy,” including “he was a person whose life was outlined by service, compassion, and neighborhood. From teaching numerous youngsters within the Ironbound to main with coronary heart in our Statehouse, he was a servant in each sense.”
Coutinho’s time in workplace ended abruptly when he resigned in 2013 as a result of authorized fees. Then-Gov. Phil Murphy (D-New Jersey) pardoned Coutinho in January.
The motive force of the opposite car was additionally taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening accidents, officers mentioned. The reason for the crash stays underneath investigation.
