Victims Angered by Plan to Name Road for Lawmaker Involved in NJ DWI

Former congressman injured two in New Jersey DWI wreck 15 years ago.

In 2006 the New Jersey State Assembly passed a bill to rename Route 23 in northern New Jersey for former U.S. Congressman Robert A. Roe. Roe served 23 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and, as chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, funneled billions of dollars in road funds to the state. Roe however was involved in a drunk driving accident that injured two people, and his victims and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) oppose the measure.

In May 1993, Roe was driving on the wrong side of the road in Rockaway Township when he ran into a minivan driven by Julia Worosila. The head-on crash left Julia and her 15 year-old daughter with serious injuries. Julia’s husband John suffered minor injuries.

Roe registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.17%, well above the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in New Jersey. While convicted of a New Jersey DWI, as part of a plea agreement he entered drug and alcohol counseling and avoided the serious crime of assault by auto. His license was suspended for six months and he paid court fines.

MADD has appealed to New Jersey Governor Corzine, asking him to block the legislation. Corzine’s office has said that the governor did not know about the NJ DWI accident when he signed the bill last month. In order to null the measure, another bill would have to be introduced to the state legislature. The original author of the bill has not replied to inquiries.

Congressman Roe declined comment through his attorney. John Worosila said Roe, “caused a nightmare for us”. He went on to say that lawmakers should be more concerned about maintaining the state roadways and think twice before assigning name rights.

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