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Defendants Split In Stadium Auto Death Of Cliffside Park Record King

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. -- The case against one of two drivers for an Englewood “dream car” company involved in an accident that killed a popular Cliffside Park record store owner outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will proceed while authorities decide how to handle his co-defendant.

Defense attorney Brian Neary, Joseph Ferretti

Defense attorney Brian Neary, Joseph Ferretti

Photo Credit: Mary K. Miraglia
Steve Lenge

Steve Lenge

Photo Credit: Contributed photo

Charges of vehicular homicide against 31-year old Joseph Ferretti of Dumont stand from the original indictment.

However, a judge dismissed charges against co-defendant Joseph Meyer of Ovieda, Florida, 22, because of a procedural error during grand jury proceedings this past summer.

A grand juror had asked why both drivers were being charged when only the car driven by Ferretti hit the Triumph motorcycle that Things From England owner Steve Lenge was driving the morning of Mothers Day 2012, defense attorney S. Emile Lisboa said.

Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Martin Delaney responded to the question, which Presiding Superior Court Judge Susan J. Steele said should have been answered by a traffic accident specialist or other expert.

Delaney must now decide whether to empanel another grand jury to hear charges against Meyer.

Meanwhile, the case against Ferretti continues.

Both men were working for Gotham Dream Cars and had just fueled their 2006 Ferraris for a run before the May 13 crash.

Lenge, a 56-year-old father of two, was wearing a helmet as he headed to a second job at the Meadowlands Sports Complex — where he helped build the set for the Electric Daisy Festival — on the Berry’s Creek service road.

Meyer lost control coming around a turn, hit two curbs and caused Ferretti to lose control of his car, which swerved into the oncoming lane, smashing Lenge’s bike, State Police said.

Lenge — who grew up in North Bergen and made Things From England one of the world’s most popular independent record stores — was killed instantly.

Witnesses said both drivers were speeding.

Ferretti and Meyer were originally charged with death by auto, a second-degree crime that carries prison terms of five to 10 years, depending on various factors, for convictions.

However, the grand jury charged both with the more serious offense of aggravated manslaughter, as well as vehicular homicide, which carry prison terms of up to 30 years — 85% of which must be served.

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