Joseph Fannell, 22, of Mansfield was fatally injured on Route 206 in June.
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP -- The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office will not prosecute a driver involved in Bordentown Township collision that killed a 22-year-old man this summer.
The decision does not sit well the victim's family, who filed a civil suit Monday against the driver in Burlington County court.
Joseph Fannell Joseph Fannell, 22, of Mansfield was fatally injured on Route 206 in June when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by Raymond Blinn, 74.
Police have said Blinn, also of Mansfield, disregarded a red light at Amboy Road.
In September, the Burlington prosecutor's office said they were reviewing the case and would make a determination on whether to file any criminal charges against Blinn.
The victim's father, Jaffrey Fannell, said recently the prosecutor's office declined to prosecute Blinn, but the family would move forward in the civil court arena.
Prosecutor's office spokesman Joel Bewley confirmed the decision about Blinn. "There is insufficient proof of reckless conduct to sustain a criminal prosecution," Bewley said.
"The Fannell family is disappointed that Raymond Blinn will not be prosecuted criminally with vehicular homicide given his egregious conduct in disregarding a traffic light and causing this tragic and fatal accident," Fannell family lawyer Joel J. Feller said in a statement.
The family will now focus their attention on holding Blinn accountable for Joseph Fannell's death, the statement said.
MORE: Father of fatal crash victim wants action on son's case
In the suit, filed by Jeffrey Fannell and his wife Evelyn, the couple allege Blinn negligently and recklessly caused their son's death. They seek to make Blinn fully accountable and seek compensatory and punitive damages.
"Mr. Blinn's conduct is beyond simple negligence and demonstrated indifference to the safely and welfare of other motorists, specifically Joseph Fannell," Feller's statement said.
A Blinn family member on Monday declined to comment on advice from their attorney.
The Bordentown Township police report on the accident says Blinn - driving northbound on Route 206 - was changing lanes from the left to the right just before the collision.
Joseph Fannell was driving west through the intersection and had the green traffic signal. Blinn's vehicle struck Fannell's driver-side door and the force of the collision spun both vehicles around.
Joseph Fannell died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton the next day.
The report also states that a detective who interviewed Blinn reported that Blinn did not appear intoxicated. Police found three witnesses to the crash, the report states.
Bordentown Township police issued Blinn two traffic citations, failure to observe traffic signals and reckless driving.
Toxicology results on Blinn were negative, Jeffrey Fannell has said.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
