Man Charged In Fatal Maplewood Crash Pleads Not Guilty

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A man charged in connection with a two-car crash in Maplewood that killed two people and injured two others pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Friday.

Harrison Allen, 20, -- the son of a Montclair fire chief -- showed little emotion walking into his arraignment, CBS 2's Don Champion reported.

His bail was set at $50,000, outraging some of the family members of the victims.

"Very low, it's ridiculous, two lives have been lost and my son is in the hospital," Bevan Harry, the father of two of the victims, said.

Allen faces multiple charges including vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk, causing a horrific accident which happened around 9 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of South 4th Street and Essex Avenue in Maplewood.

Prosecutors said Allen was going more than 60 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone when he ran a stop sign slamming into a Nissan Sentra.

Two people inside -- 21-year-old Kervin Noel and 16-year-old Tamir Harry -- were ejected from the Nissan on impact and died.

Two backseat passengers -- 21-year-old Rodney Lovius and Tamir Harry's 20-year-old brother Tahsir -- were seriously hurt and remain in the hospital.

Prosecutors said the bail set for Allen meets guidelines, considering he doesn't have a record, Champion reported.

The case against him now goes to the grand jury, which will decide on an indictment.

No one from the Allen family was in the courtroom.

Allen faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

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