In a case that has shaken the Absecon, New Jersey, community and ignited calls for legislative reform, 25-year-old Edward Johnston has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed 8-year-old Javier “Javi” Velez in July 2023.
Johnston pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter after he drove under the influence at 107 miles per hour, ultimately slamming into a parked vehicle where the child was sleeping. The heartbreaking incident occurred along US Route 30 and Absecon Boulevard during the early morning hours of July 23, 2023, while Javier’s father and brother were fishing nearby.
Fishing was a beloved family tradition for the Velez family. That night, young Javier chose to rest in the car while his father, Orlando Javier Velez, and his brother cast their lines nearby. What should have been a peaceful outing turned into a nightmare in an instant when Johnston’s speeding vehicle veered off the road and crashed directly into the stationary car.
The force of the impact killed the boy instantly.
Javier's grieving family made their presence felt in the courtroom on sentencing day. The child’s ashes sat on the prosecutor’s desk, and photos of him — along with a haunting image of the mangled car — were displayed during victim impact statements.
His mother, Kaylah Smith, tearfully addressed Johnston. “My son is gone. You did this to him. Can you imagine an 8-year-old little boy being in this car?” she said while holding up a photo of the crash aftermath.
His father, Orlando, painfully recalled witnessing his son’s last moments: “I couldn’t get to him, bro. I seen his whole last breath.”
Though Johnston apologized before sentencing, saying, “I think about your son every day, and it's destroyed me,” the courtroom remained gripped by sorrow and anger.
The case has also spurred proposed legislation in New Jersey after it was revealed Johnston had been released on bail while awaiting trial — a decision that provoked public outrage. The new bill would revoke the driver’s license and impound the vehicle of any defendant facing DUI-related manslaughter or vehicular homicide charges.
Javier’s mother, Smith, now a vocal advocate for reform, has vowed to continue fighting for legal changes: “I’m going to make sure that no one has to go through that again, and I’m not going to stop until the law is changed.”
In addition to the criminal proceedings, the Velez family plans to file a civil lawsuit against Boogie Nights and Tropicana Atlantic City, alleging the establishments overserved alcohol to Johnston before the crash. These types of lawsuits fall under dram shop liability laws, which allow victims to hold alcohol vendors accountable when they contribute to drunk driving injuries or deaths by serving visibly intoxicated patrons.
This legal route not only seeks financial compensation but aims to establish accountability for all parties whose negligence led to a child’s death.
Drunk driving crashes are not “accidents” — they are preventable acts of negligence that can devastate families. Victims and their loved ones have rights not just in the criminal court system but also in civil court, where they can seek compensation for:
Medical expenses
Funeral and burial costs
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Loss of companionship or future income
Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
Civil claims can also target bars, restaurants, and social hosts who irresponsibly serve alcohol under dram shop laws.
At Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, we are dedicated to holding drunk drivers — and those who enable them — accountable for the suffering they cause. We work with grieving families to navigate the civil justice system and secure the compensation they need to begin healing.
Our team has extensive experience with DUI wrongful death cases, and we are committed to pursuing justice with compassion and determination. If your loved one has been killed or injured by a drunk driver, you don’t have to face it alone.
Contact Haggard Crime Victim Attorney today for a free consultation. We will fight to make sure your voice is heard, and that your family receives the justice you deserve.
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