No charges in fatal Corvette crash in Washington Twp.

No criminal charges are forthcoming in a fatal car crash involving a Lexus and a 1961 Chevrolet Corvette on April 18 in Washington Township, according to county and municipal authorities.

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Washington Township Police Chief Michael Bailey announced the conclusion on Tuesday of the criminal investigation into the accident on West Mill Road that resulted in the death of a Long Valley resident Raymond P. Ferrante.

“After a thorough investigation by law enforcement, and in coordination with the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police Forensics Laboratory, no evidence of criminal conduct was found on the part of the driver of the Lexus,” Knapp and Bailey announced in a joint statement. “Analysis of the driver’s blood did not reveal the presence of any substance that would have impaired one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. As such, no criminal charges are forthcoming arising out of this incident.”

The investigation revealed that Ferrante, 68, was traveling westbound when an eastbound 2013 Lexus RX crossed over the center double line for unknown reasons, striking his classic Corvette head-on and causing the fatal injuries.

The statement did not include names of the drivers, but previous reports identified the driver of the Lexus as Elaine Moran, 69, of Long Valley. She was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene. Ferrante was ejected from the Corvette. Patrol Officer Adam Feichter, along with a passer-by, performed CPR on Ferrante, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Knapp thanked Bailey and the Washington Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Section and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their collective assistance in the matter.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.