High-Speed Wrong-Way Crash Kills Philippine Olympian, Prosecutors Charge Executive

New Jersey — Nearly five months after the fatal car crash that killed Philippine Olympian Edwin Borja, prosecutors have filed aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges against Brian Baldari, a 47-year-old award-winning pharmaceutical executive.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges following the completion of an investigation into the March 7, 2025, accident on Route 70 in Lakewood, New Jersey. Authorities determined that Baldari was driving at more than 100 miles per hour in the wrong direction when his vehicle struck multiple cars along the eastbound lane at around 5:30 a.m.

The collision involved eight vehicles, including the one driven by Borja. The 66-year-old Olympian died as a result of the impact. Investigators found that although Baldari tested negative for alcohol and drugs, his reckless driving and excessive speed directly caused the crash, leading to the filing of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and assault by auto charges. Baldari has been taken into custody at the Ocean County Jail pending court proceedings.

The case has drawn attention not only because of the severity of the charges but also due to the high-profile victim. Edwin Borja was a celebrated Filipino swimmer who represented the Philippines in international competitions during the 1970s.

Born on July 6, 1958, in Santa Cruz, Borja entered the international stage at the age of 14 when he competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. In his Olympic debut, he placed 41st in the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle and 14th in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Two years later, Borja represented the Philippines in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, Iran. He secured two bronze medals in freestyle events, solidifying his reputation as one of Asia’s most competitive young swimmers.

In 1976, Borja broke the Asian record in the 1,500-meter freestyle with a time of 17 minutes and 12.9 seconds during the Philippine Amateur Championships. That same year, he competed in the Montreal Summer Olympics, where he participated in four events. He finished 44th in the 400-meter freestyle, 28th in the 1,500-meter freestyle, 32nd in the 200-meter butterfly, and 30th in the 400-meter individual medley.

His international achievements earned him recognition in the Philippines, where he was regarded as one of the country’s most dedicated athletes of his generation. During the height of his career, Borja contributed to the Philippines’ reputation in competitive swimming across Asia.

Borja was also part of the group of Filipino athletes who did not participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia, as the Philippines joined the international boycott of the games.

The death of Borja marked the sudden loss of a national sports figure whose early achievements placed the Philippines on the global swimming stage. Legal proceedings against Baldari are set to move forward in the coming weeks, with the executive facing decades in prison if convicted of all charges.