Union County Man Pleads Guilty to Crash That Killed Montclair EMT

A Union County man pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of aggravated manslaughter for the 2012 accident that killed a Montclair EMT and a patient riding in the ambulance, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

James Sterling, 30, Elizabeth, was driving a Chrysler Pacifica SUV that struck an ambulance and set off a multi-vehicle crash on South Orange Avenue and South 9th Street in Newark on on Nov. 19, 2012. A food truck and county transportation bus were also involved in the accident.

Keith Chipepo, 30, of Montclair, who was employed by the private ambulance company, and Martha Conley, 58, of Newark, who was a patient in the ambulance, were each killed in the crash. Conley succumbed to her injuries on Nov. 28, 2012.

Sterling, who is also known as James Megget, was originally charged with eluding, aggravated assault, driving with a suspended license and causing death and bodily injury. 

Sterling is expected to be sentenced to 13 years in state prison and must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.