The man who caused the crash is serving a three-year prison sentence
OLD BRIDGE -- Two cousins left with brain injuries following a drunk-driving crash will split a $2.05 million settlement, according to a report.
Farhad Qamar-Yousufzai The then-16-year-olds were rear-seat passengers in a vehicle that was rear-ended by a Manalapan man whose blood-alcohol content was about three times the legal limit.
News of the settlement was first reported by NJLawJournal.com.
Sora Newman and Shulamis Gorelick were in the back of a car driven by a 33-year-old Lakewood woman on Dec. 29, 2013 when it was hit from behind on Route 9 in Old Bridge just after midnight. The car slid off the road and struck a pole. Rescuers had to be cut away the vehicle to extract both passengers.
In addition to a traumatic brain injury, Newman lost vision in her left eye and was left with multiple fractures to her face and orbital bone, which required several surgeries. Gorelick also suffered a brain injury, NJLawJournal.com said.
Both are now 20.
The drunk driver, Farhad Qamar-Yousufzai, spent two to three hours before the crash drinking at Ale House Tavern & Tap on Route 35 in Sayreville. He was later convicted of two counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault by auto.
Qamar-Yousufzai, now 37, was sentenced on May 12, 2016 and is serving a three-year term in state prison, according to department of corrections records.
The bar, which allegedly continued to serve Qamar-Yousufza while he was visibly drunk, is responsible for $2 million of the settlement. Its two insurance carriers will pay $1 million apiece.
Qamar-Yousufzai's insurance company will pay $50,000.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.