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Plainfield Victim, 25, Killed By Violent Storm Was Coming Home From Work, Campaign Says
Support is pouring in for the family of Bryan Ernesto Valladares, one of the three victims killed during Thursday’s violent thunderstorm in New Jersey/.
As of Saturday, July 5, more than $4,400 had been raised on a GoFundMe to help send the 25-year-old Plainfield man's body back to his home country of El Salvador and support his grieving family.
Bryan, described as a hard-working young man, was driving home from work around 6:56 p.m. on July 3 when a tree collapsed onto his vehicle, campaign organizer Yoselin Melendez wrote.
“Bryan, only 25 years old, tragically lost his life when a tree f…
NWS Confirms 80 MPH Winds In NJ Storm That Left 3 Dead
The National Weather Service says the severe storm that struck parts of Central Jersey Thursday, July 3, packed winds as strong as 80 miles per hour and caused widespread damage across multiple towns.
In a public information statement issued Friday afternoon, July 4, the NWS confirmed that the destruction — which caused three deaths — was caused by “straight-line winds and downbursts.”
The storm hit Somerset and Middlesex counties just after 6 p.m., tearing through North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Green Brook Township, Bound Brook, and Metuchen, the NWS said.
“Based on photos shared wit…
Three Killed In New Jersey As Storm Uproots Trees, Crushes Cars, Flattens Homes
A violent thunderstorm that ripped through New Jersey Thursday night, July 3, left three people dead — including a Middlesex woman, a 79-year-old man, and a 25-year-old Plainfield resident — and caused widespread destruction across Union and Somerset counties, officials said.
Storm photos in Edison below (scroll for fatal incidents).
Yesterday’s strong thunderstorm caused many wires, countless trees, branches and other debris to come down but... Posted by Mayor Sam Joshi on Friday, July 4, 2025
North Plainfield:
At around 6:30 p.m., a 44-year-old Middlesex woman was driving a 2018 …
Stabbing Suspect Rams Montgomery Twp Cop Car, Leads Pursuit Through 3 Towns: Prosecutor
A North Carolina man stabbed a New Jersey resident, then fled the scene in a red SUV, sparking a police pursuit that stretched through three towns Monday, June 16, authorities said.
Brian Pyke, 65, of Calabash, NC, was arrested after allegedly stabbing a man on Willow Run Lane in Montgomery Township (Somerset County) around 1:32 p.m., according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Montgomery Police officers arrived on the scene along with Montgomery EMS and provided emergency care to the victim, McDonald said.
The man suffered stab wounds to the shoulder and abdomen and was rush…
Man Beat Husky With Saw Blade After It Got Loose From Car In Franklin Twp: Cops
A man is facing a long list of charges after he was caught on camera brutally beating a dog in Somerset County, then fleeing police during a wild pursuit, authorities said.
Dennis Storey, 62, of Perth Amboy, was arrested Tuesday, June 10, and is being held in the Morris County Jail, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said. On Monday, June 16, a judge ordered him detained pending trial.
The alleged incident happened Saturday, June 7, around 7:18 p.m., when Franklin Township Police received a 9-1-1 call about an act of animal cruelty near Somerset Street, McDonald said.
Witnesses to…
Ghost Gun, Uzi Seized In Somerset County Raid: Two Elizabeth Men Busted, Prosecutor Says
Two Elizabeth men were arrested and charged after numerous firearms were found at their residences, authorities announced on Monday, June 2.
On Wednesday, May 7, at 8:30 p.m., the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task force, along with members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other law enforcement agencies conducted a search warrant at two residences in Elizabeth, located on Magnolia Avenue and Murray Street, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said.
The searches led to the seizure of eight handguns, includi…
Child Porn, Ecstasy, Mushrooms: 23-Year-Old Raritan Man Behind Bars, Prosecutor Says
A Central Jersey man is facing charges after authorities say he was found with child sexual abuse material and drugs, authorities announced.
Joseph Vega Ramirez, 23, was arrested on Tuesday, May 13, following a search of his Raritan home, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said on Friday, May 23.
The investigation began when the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force alerted Somerset County officials to a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip reported “the upload of several files depicting the sexual abuse a…
Isolated Tornado Possible, Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For 14 NJ Counties
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for 14 counties in New Jersey, with storms expected to bring wind gusts up to 60 MPH, the National Weather Service said on Saturday, May 3.
The watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, and Warren counties, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
Forecasters say the main threat is damaging winds, especially in areas north and west of the I-95 corridor. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move in later today and co…
License Plate Reader Picks Up Warren Burglars' Getaway Car, 2 In Custody: Prosecutor
Two men have been arrested and charged after breaking into an occupied home in Somerset County officials said.
Jeremy Proleon-Carmen, 20, of Paterson, and Julio L. Ponce-Giannotti, 44, of Clifton, were taken into custody shortly after the burglary on Wednesday, April 30 in Warren Township, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.
Police were called around 10:07 a.m. for a burglary in progress on Briarwood Drive East, Warren Township, McDonald said. A caller reported that a man was entering the home through a basement window and also gave police a description of a getaway car.
Offi…
Speeding Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide In Deadly North Plainfield Crash: Officials
A Plainfield ex-con is facing a long list of charges—including vehicular homicide—after a deadly crash in North Plainfield killed a 68-year-old Bridgewater man, officials said.
Kavon Powell-Coleman, 35, was arrested on Friday, March 13 in Somerville following a crash that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.
Police responded around 1:16 p.m. to Greenbrook Road and Duer Street, where a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Powell-Coleman, had collided with a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck, authorities said. The F-150 had veered off the …
