A former police officer has been sentenced to five years in state prison for causing a crash that killed a passenger in another vehicle on Route 23 last year.
Keith M. Gunther, 42, of Wanaque, will have to serve at least four years and three months before he is eligible for parole, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Gunther in April pleaded guilty to reckless vehicular homicide, assault by auto and driving under the influence.
The off-duty East Hanover police sergeant was drunk and driving a pickup truck south in the northbound lanes in Riverdale. He struck a car at 10:58 p.m. on Oct. 15, authorities said at the time.
The passenger in the car, Hamid Shabuddin, 55, of Paterson, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gunther was a police officer for 17 years and is a former National Guard member.
Stories by Jeff Goldman
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.