Man Smoking Crack Killed Nun

A man who caused a two-car crash that killed a Roman Catholic nun was smoking crack cocaine and steering with his knees at the time of the collision, prosecutors said Monday.

Edward Chinchillo, 44, of Williamstown, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in the crash that killed Sister Margaret Mary Hynes late Friday night in Cherry Hill.

His wife, Janice Chinchillo, 49, has also been charged with aggravated manslaughter as an accomplice because she loaded the crack pipe and passed it to him, prosecutors said.

The crash killed Hynes, who was known as "Sister Peg" in Camden, where she worked to revitalize the impoverished city.

She was a passenger in a car driven by Thomas Quinn, 76, of Cherry Hill, who was in critical condition Monday in Cooper Hospital University Medical Center in Camden. Another passenger, Muriel Prickitt, 70, of Cherry Hill, also remained hospitalized Monday.

Edward Chinchillo was not injured in the crash. His wife was treated and released from a Cherry Hill hospital following the crash.

Bail for Edward Chinchillo was set at $250,000 Monday. An arraignment for his wife was scheduled for Tuesday.

A 16-year-old male also in the car with the Chinchillos was not injured. He was charged with possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia and was being held at the Camden County Youth Center. His name was not released because of his age.

Prosecutors said Edward Chinchillo was driving erratically and failed to negotiate a curve in his 2002 Lincoln LS when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck Quinn's 1997 Kia head-on.

Police found the pipe and marijuana in the car and crack cocaine on Edward Chinchillo when they searched him, prosecutors said.

Hynes headed the Heart of Camden Housing Corp., an offshoot of the Sacred Heart Church that has used public and private money to rehabilitate more than 125 vacant homes.

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