Egg Harbor drunk driver gets 10 years in teen’s death

An Egg Harbor man who killed a Moorestown teenager in a drunk-driving crash last year has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

Jesse Johns, 31, pleaded guilty in June to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in the Southhampton crash that killed Eric Messick, a 17-year-old Moorestown High School senior.

Messick was riding in a car driven by a classmate when Johns slammed into their car on Route 38.

In addition to the prison sentence, Johns will lose his license for the rest of his life.

Messick's death came a week after a car crash that killed Evan Welch, another Moorestown senior. And in July, a third member of this year's Moorestown High class, Will Christianson, was struck by a car and killed while riding his bicycle.      - Allison Steele