Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on September 3, 2025, Douglas Smith, 51, of Lakehurst, was charged with Vehicular Homicide in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred on July 31, 2025, in Toms River.
On July 31, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to the area of Lakewood Road and Raymond Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. Responding Officers discovered Allen Adams, 50, of Lumberton, lying in the roadway with serious injuries. Mr. Adams was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he was pronounced deceased.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Toms River Township Police Department revealed that Mr. Adams was working in a construction zone on Lakewood Road – with machinery equipped with flashing amber warning lights – when he was struck by a vehicle traveling north on Lakewood Road operated by Smith. Officers located the vehicle on Lakewood Road just north of where the crash occurred. As Officers engaged Smith, he showed signs of impairment. Smith was initially charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving. In furtherance of the investigation, Smith was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where a draw of his blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant.
Laboratory results of Smith’s blood draw, received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, revealed that Smith’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was .151 at the time his blood was drawn. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater. Additionally, Smith was found to have cocaine, fentanyl and methadone in his system. As a consequence, on August 28, 2025, Smith was charged with Vehicular Homicide, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On September 3, 2025, Smith was located at a residence in Toms River by Officers from the United States Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Toms River Police Department. Smith was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned that Tammie Malek, 46, and Amy Thorn, 56, both of Toms River, provided false information to law enforcement as to Smith’s whereabouts. As such, on September 3, 2025, both Malek and Thorn were charged with Hindering the Apprehension of Another. Both were taken into custody at their residence in Toms River and transported to the Ocean County Jail where they are presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River Township Police Department. Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).