El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en agosto 22, 2023, John Zinkoski, 41, de Beachwood, surrendered himself, in the presence of his attorney, to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office in connection with charges of Vehicular Homicide and Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide – relative to a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Plumsted Township on May 12, 2023, which resulted in the death of Judi Smith, 59, de Browns Mills. Zinkoski was charged with these offenses on August 8, 2023, and a warrant for his arrest was issued on that date.
En mayo 12, 2023, aproximadamente a 5:50 pm., Officers from the Plumsted Township Police Department responded to the area of Pinehurst Road and Long Swamp Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. An investigation by the Plumsted Township Police Department determined that a Volvo XC6, operated by Ms. Herrero, attempted to make a right-hand turn onto Pinehurst Road when it was struck by a Nissan Frontier operated by Zinkoski, who was traveling southbound on Pinehurst Road. Como resultado del accidente, EM. Smith suffered significant injuries and was subsequently transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she ultimately succumbed to those injuries. Zinkoski was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, donde fue atendido por sus heridas y puesto en libertad.
Laboratory results of an initial blood draw taken from Zinkoski at the hospital revealed that his Blood Alcohol Concentration (bachillerato) at the time of the crash was in excess of the legal limit. En el estado de Nueva Jersey, Se presume que un operador de un vehículo de motor está por encima del límite legal para fines de consumo de alcohol cuando el BAC del operador es .08 o mayor. The laboratory results revealed the presence of cocaine and benzodiazepine in Zinkoski’s blood at the time of the crash as well. Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Plumsted Township Police Department determined that the vehicle operated by Zinkoski was traveling at an average speed of 86 millas por hora en el momento del accidente.
Upon his surrender to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Zinkoski was transported to the Ocean County Jail, donde se encuentra actualmente en espera de una audiencia de detención.
Los cargos mencionados anteriormente son meras acusaciones y se recuerda a la prensa y al público que todos los acusados se presumen inocentes a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia..
RPC. 3.6(b)(6).