15-Year-Old Charged

A 15 year-old charged in a deadly accident in Gloucester Township went before a judge Wednesday.

David Lewis, 40, was killed Sunday night when a van driven by an unlicensed 15-year-old ran a stop sign and smashed into Lewis's car. His 6-year-old daughter, Emily, survived the crash. Another man, Anthony Chabalowski was hit while walking his dog and remains in the hospital with numerous broken bones.

Wednesday, a judge said the 15-year-old would remain in custody until at least Friday. He has been charged with death by automobile and assault by automobile.

Lewis' sister held it together Wednesday as she remembered her younger brother -- a man she said was devoted to his family and who was there for anyone who needed him.

"David lived his life for his kids and his family. If you saw David, you saw one of the kids. He was always there. I don't want people to know that it was just another man in a car in an accident. He wasn't a nobody. He was somebody. He was a father of three and a husband and a brother and a son and now he's not," said Lisa Petruzzi, Lewis' sister.

Petruzzi said she isn't angry with the boy.

"I'm not angry and I'm not bitter. My issue is with the parents. The parents should have been aware of where the kids were, what were they doing and how did they get access to the keys. I guess that's where my anger is sitting right now," Petruzzi said.

The boy's father left the courthouse Wednesday remorseful.

"We regret this tragedy ever happened. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims' families. If there's anything in God's name we could do, we surely want to," said the suspect's father.

Lewis leaves behind three children and a financial fund has been set up to help them. Send donations to:
Commerce Bank
c/o Emily Lewis
591 Berlin Cross Keys Road
Sicklerville, NJ 08081

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