A former police officer who caused a collision on Route 23 last year that killed a passenger in another car has been sentenced to five years in state prison.
According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Wanaque resident Keith M. Gunther, 42, will not be eligible for parole until he has served for at least four years and three months.
In April, Gunther entered a guilty plea to charges of driving under the influence, assault by automobile, and reckless vehicular homicide.
Intoxicated, the off-duty East Hanover police sergeant was operating a pickup vehicle south in Riverdale’s northbound lanes. At 10:58 p.m. on October 15, he hit an automobile, according to the authorities at the time.
Hamid Shabuddin, 55, of Paterson, was the car’s passenger and was declared dead at the scene.
Gunther is a former member of the National Guard and a 17-year police officer.
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