Livingston Man Pleads Not Guilty to Fatal Crash Charges

The 20-year-old man charged in the crash that killed two Maplewood residents this week pleaded not guilty Friday morning.

Harrison Allen, who is charged with vehicular homicide and aggravated assault by auto, appeared before Judge Peter Vazquez in Superior Court in Newark. Allen lists his place of residence as Livingston and Montclair.

Authorities said "alcohol and excessive speed" were factors in the Tuesday night crash at the intersection of Essex Avenue and South Fourth Street in Maplewood.

Allen, who is the son of Montclair Fire Chief Kevin Allen, is accused of speeding through a stop sign and hitting a Nissan Sentra carrying four occupants, authorities said.

Two of those inside the vehicle—Tamir Harry, 16, and Kervin Noel, 21—were each thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Two other men, Rodney Lovius, 21, and Tamir Harry’s brother, Tahsir, 20, were seriously injured and had to be extricated by rescuers who removed the roof of the car.

More than 100 people attended a vigil for the crash victims on Thursday at the scene of the accident. Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca, who was among those in attendance, vowed to improve safety measures at the intersection.

Bevan Harry, the father of Tamir and Tahsir, said he was "emotionally distraught" as he left Friday's court proceedings, according to NJ.com.

"Two lives have been wasted," he was quoted as saying in the article.