'Erin Moore was a force': Sparta man gets 8 years in drunken crash that killed local mom

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The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned her indomitable "notorious" nickname as a pioneer for gender equality and women's rights. A force on and off the bench, her legacy is now a call to action for future generations to follow her lead and, as she once said, "fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

Ginsburg's greatest gift was her ability to act as a voice for women, and men, in countless ways and was a role model to many including Sparta resident Erin Moore, whose life, albeit short, was dedicated to not only fighting for women's health rights, but making a vow to leave this world a better place than she found it, her mother, Kathy Jones, tearfully said on Friday.

"She was a bright light in this world, she lived big and loud, she stood up for what she believed in and she decided what she wanted and pursued it," said Jones, whose short blonde hair was dipped in pink hair dye, a style her daughter often sported. "She made her day on this Earth count."

Moore, 41, was killed on Jan. 30, 2022 after her SUV was struck head-on on Route 181 in Sparta by an out-of-control sedan driven by township resident Attila Princz, 42. Princz, during a plea hearing in January, admitted his blood alcohol concentration was .163%, over double the 0.08% legal limit to drive, when his BMW crossed over the double-yellow lines and struck Moore's Hyundai Tucson. Princz was traveling 64 mph at the time of impact — nearly 30 mph over the speed limit — thrusting Moore's SUV back 40 or more feet, according to data taken from experts at the scene, prosecutors said.

Erin and Eddie Moore
Erin and Eddie Moore

Princz, who pleaded guilty to a second-degree crime for vehicular homicide, was sentenced to eight years in prison by state Superior Court Judge Michael Gaus, who followed the recommendations made by Brent Rafuse, an assistant prosecutor in Sussex County. Princz will be required to serve about six years and eight months, or 85%, of his sentence before being eligible for parole and will be on parole supervision for three years upon his release.

Princz's attorney Charles Clark sought a five-year sentence, stressing that his client lacked a criminal or motor vehicle violation history and has accepted responsibility for his actions.

Upon release from prison, Princz told the court he has "sincere intentions" to share his experience with organizations to caution others on the perils of drinking and driving.

"I strive to prevent this from happening to other families," Princz said.

He briefly turned to look at Eddie Moore and his family, who was supported by over 20 friends and community members, and told him he thought about him, his wife and children "every single day."

Attila Princz stands and listens as the judge speaks during his sentencing in state Superior Court in Sussex County on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Attila Princz stands and listens as the judge speaks during his sentencing in state Superior Court in Sussex County on Friday, March 17, 2023.

"Remorse, regret, sorrow, guilt, they're not strong enough to capture my feelings," Princz said.

But the judge found Princz's sentiments, combined with statements the one-time claims manager at BMW of North Jersey in Bergen County made in pre-sentencing comments, to lack any remorse, instead calling them "attempts."

Gaus read snippets from dozens of letters submitted to the court describing Moore's "strong, vibrant, funny and passionate" personality and the indelible impact she had on other women, calling the paramedic and nurse a "force" and stating that despite all the positive strides society has made, there "seems to be far too few Erin Moores" in the world.

Moore's personality and passion, however, appeared to shine through in the words said, that were at times off-the-cuff, by her husband, Eddie, who broke down in tears as he spoke of his wife and thanked the community of women who have helped him raise the two young girls he is left to raise alone.

Moore, who was an emergency room nurse in New York City during the COVID pandemic, was the type of person who would sit and hold hands with patients who otherwise had no one else and made sure her children knew the power of their worth, Eddie Moore said. She was passionate about saving lives, helping bring lives into the world — she later became a labor and delivery nurse — and pushed for women's health rights.

Her tragic death was avoidable and shouldn't have happened, Moore said, adding that everyone, especially a grown man, should know the consequences of driving drunk.

Erin Moore poses with her two young daughter, Rylee and Mackenzie
Erin Moore poses with her two young daughter, Rylee and Mackenzie

"I'm angry. I'm very, very angry. Nobody should have to go through what me and my family were forced to go through," Moore said. "We are forced to deal with the actions and consequences of another person."

Princz's wife, who supported her husband on Friday, gave tearful testimony and shared her condolences with the family.

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Prosecutors say Princz drank seven sangrias — despite admitting to drinking five at his plea hearing — at a Lake Hopatcong restaurant over the course of five hours while he was "auditioning" a band for his impending wedding. He left the restaurant shortly after 5 p.m. with a pitcher of sangria to-go and lost control of his sedan around 5:30 p.m. as he attempted to negotiate a curve near Signal Hill Trail. Princz suffered his own severe injuries to his head and back in the crash.

Princz was arrested for vehicular homicide on Feb. 22, 2022, roughly three weeks after the crash. He spent seven days in jail before a judge ordered his release, despite objections by prosecutors.

Erin Moore's mother, whose distress after her statements was so discernable she needed assistance from two people back to her seat, said she suffers nightmares, headaches and extreme anxiety and is "tortured" over what her daughter's final moments were like.

"I was with Erin when she took her first breath," she said, "and I have sat where she took her last."

Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Erin Moore death: Sparta NJ man sentenced in fatal crash