A drug executive, recognized for his achievements, has been charged after allegedly driving over 100 mph in a tragic collision that resulted in the death of a former Olympic swimmer on a New Jersey highway.
Brian Bardari, 47, was reportedly driving his Cadillac CT5 Blackwing the wrong way on Route 70 in Lakewood when he struck 66-year-old Edwin Borja’s Mazda CX5 in March. The accident didn’t stop there; Bardari’s car hit six more vehicles before finally coming to a halt at around 5:50 AM.
When the Lakewood Township Police arrived at the scene, they discovered Bardari trapped inside his car, which was engulfed in flames. Emergency responders managed to pull him from the wreckage, and he was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) before being transferred to a burn center in New York City, as stated by prosecutors.
Prosecutors have indicated that Bardari was speeding, allegedly reaching 103 mph. Borja, a former Philippines Olympic athlete who competed in both the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, was also airlifted to JSUMC but succumbed to his injuries 11 days later.
Furthermore, another driver sustained injuries during the multiple collisions and was treated at Ocean University Medical Center before being released.
After a thorough investigation, Bardari was charged with manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and motor vehicle assault on Wednesday. If found guilty, he could face up to 50 years in prison.
Bardari turned himself in to the Lakewood Township Police and was taken to Ocean County Jail. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimmer noted that Bardari is awaiting a detention hearing.
Identifying himself as “an award-winning” biopharmaceutical executive, Bardari holds a degree from Rutgers University and currently works in a hybrid role at Azlure Pharmaceuticals in North Carolina as a vice president overseeing several divisions.
Interestingly, just two weeks ago, he shared a post about his position at Azurity Pharmaceuticals on LinkedIn. Meanwhile, Borja moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1971. At just 14, he was competing for the Philippine team in the Munich Olympics, with notable finishes in various swimming events.
He returned for the Montreal Olympics in 1976, where he swam in multiple events but did not medal. Borja graduated from La Salle University in Pennsylvania and worked at Dana Companies, specializing in transporting hazardous materials.
He was a cherished member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, known for singing in the choir and his love for bowling. Borja’s wife, Marieta, passed away in 2019, leaving behind two children and four grandchildren.
