Bridgeton Resident Diana Barrios-Ortiz Indicted on Second-Degree Vehicular Homicide Charge

An Atlantic County grand jury returned an indictment on Feb. 18–19, 2026, charging 23‑year‑old Bridgeton resident Diana Barrios‑Ortiz with second‑degree vehicular homicide, the indictment wording appearing in a public PDF distributed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. Several local outlets paraphrased the charge as vehicular manslaughter, but the prosecutor’s document cited vehicular homicide.

State Police records and multiple news accounts tie the charge to an early morning wrong‑way collision on July 5, 2025. New Jersey State Police were dispatched at 4:27 a.m. to investigate reports of a wrong‑way driver on the Atlantic City Expressway when officers were called to a crash at milepost 4.1 in Pleasantville. Authorities say Barrios‑Ortiz entered the eastbound lanes while driving west and her Infiniti struck a concrete median and a toll reader support structure; the vehicle overturned and ended on its roof.

The passenger, identified as 24‑year‑old David N. Salas of Bridgeton, died as a result of the crash. Local obituary material and BreakingAC reporting note Salas was a Rowan College of South Jersey graduate with a degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology and was remembered as “a humble and kind person whose charisma drew others in.”

BreakingAC obtained an affidavit of probable cause that describes officers’ observations at the scene: there was “an overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath” and Barrios‑Ortiz’s eyes were “watery, bloodshot and glassy.” Hospital testing showed a blood‑alcohol level of .127, a figure the outlet described as “more than 1½ times the legal limit.” The affidavit and subsequent reports also state she tested positive for an unquantified amount of cannabis. Prosecutor’s materials and local outlets say Barrios‑Ortiz was driving on a suspended license at the time, was taken to the hospital for treatment, was charged on a summons, and was not jailed after the crash.

Accounts differ on the Infiniti’s color: BreakingAC described the car as black, while radio and other local outlets including Cat Country 107.3 and 97.3 ESPN reported a silver Infiniti. Traffic advisories show a 5:10 a.m. 511 traveler information post about the police investigation on July 5, 2025, and multiple local outlets repeated lane‑closure details around the Pleasantville toll area.

The indictment was reported via the prosecutor’s public PDF on Feb. 19, 2026; formal indictment papers and the affidavit cited by BreakingAC remain key documents for confirming the charge language, exact cause and time of death for David Salas, and the technical details of the blood and toxicology testing. Court scheduling and future hearing dates will be recorded in Atlantic County criminal court filings following the grand jury indictment.