Motorcycle crash in July kills Jersey City restaurant owner

The owner of a well-known restaurant in Jersey City, who was involved in a motorcycle accident about three and a half months ago, has passed away due to the injuries sustained in the incident.

The collision between an SUV and Miguel Contreras’ motorcycle at Kennedy Boulevard and Orient Avenue on July 27 left the 50-year-old unconscious. Despite efforts, he was unable to regain consciousness and passed away on November 4.

According to reports, Gustavo Contreras was a cherished member of the local community and a devoted father of two. He had been the proprietor of Gusto Latino Restaurant, located on West Side Avenue near Lincoln Park, since its establishment in 1997.

For the past 25 years, Contreras has been a pillar of our community, proudly serving the neighborhood of West Side Ave. In his obituary, Miguel’s family described him as a person with a contagious smile, a great sense of humor, and one of the most positive, kind, and resilient individuals anyone could ever encounter. He was a confident leader and a role model to many in both his family and community.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Contreras worked various odd jobs until he was able to accumulate enough savings to establish his own restaurant.

As per the crash report published on July 27, the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident, a 40-year-old woman from Jersey City, stated to the police that she was heading south on Kennedy Boulevard and was in the process of making a left turn onto Orient Avenue when Contreras accelerated and the collision took place. Unfortunately, Contreras was unconscious at the time of the incident and could not be questioned by the authorities.

City officials have stated that no charges have been filed in relation to the crash.

As of now, the number of fatalities caused by traffic accidents in Jersey City has reached 12 for the year 2023, with the most recent being the death of Contreras and a 50-year-old pedestrian who was hit and killed in Downtown last Saturday afternoon. It is notable that three of these accidents occurred on Kennedy Boulevard. Meanwhile, the entire county has recorded 25 deaths, which is only five less than the previous year’s high.

The Greenville Funeral Home has scheduled a visitation for Contreras on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Following this, he will be interred at Bayview Cemetery on Saturday.