Former NJ Assemblyman Albert Coutinho Dies in Fiery Crash

Coutinho, 56, was a beloved figure in New Jersey's Portuguese community.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:36am

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Albert Coutinho, a former New Jersey assemblyman who left office in 2013 after being caught embezzling funds from his family's charity, died in a fiery car crash on Sunday morning in Newark, New Jersey. Coutinho, 56, was involved in a two-car collision and suffered a fatal heart attack at the scene.

Why it matters

Coutinho was a prominent figure in New Jersey's Portuguese community, serving as a key organizer of the Newark Portugal Day Festival. His death is a loss for the community he served and championed, even after his political downfall.

The details

Coutinho was involved in a two-car collision on McCarter Highway in Newark around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. He survived the initial crash but suffered a fatal heart attack at the scene. Coutinho had previously left the state assembly in 2013 after being caught embezzling $32,500 from his family's Bernardino Coutinho Foundation. He accepted a plea deal that included a stipulation barring him from holding elected office again, but he was later pardoned by Governor Phil Murphy in 2026.

  • The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • Coutinho left the state assembly in 2013 after being caught embezzling funds.
  • Coutinho was pardoned by Governor Phil Murphy in early 2026.

The players

Albert Coutinho

A former New Jersey assemblyman who was a beloved figure in the state's Portuguese community and a key organizer of the Newark Portugal Day Festival.

Phil Murphy

The Governor of New Jersey who pardoned Coutinho in early 2026.

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What they’re saying

“The people of New Jersey lost when he left the legislature. The world has lost now that he's left it.”

— Declan O'Scanlon, New Jersey Senator

“Al was an extraordinary person whose generosity, kindness, and commitment to others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He was as good a guy as you could imagine and our prayers are with his loved ones and all who were fortunate enough to know him.”

— Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey

What’s next

The crash is still under investigation by local authorities.

The takeaway

Coutinho's death is a tragic loss for New Jersey's Portuguese community, which he served and championed through his work organizing the Newark Portugal Day Festival and co-founding the Ironbound Soccer Club. Despite his past legal troubles, Coutinho remained a beloved figure, and his legacy will endure through the many lives he touched.