El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en agosto 8, 2025, John Zinkoski, 41, de Beachwood, fue sentenciado por el Honorable David M. fritch, J.S.C., to five years New Jersey State Prison relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Vehicular Homicide in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Plumsted Township on May 12, 2023, resulting in the death of Judi Smith, 59, de Browns Mills. The sentence will be subject to the terms of No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that Zinkoski will be required to serve at least 85 por ciento de su sentencia de prisión antes de que pueda ser considerado para la elegibilidad para la libertad condicional. Zinkoski pled guilty to the charge before Judge Fritch on April 14, 2025. Además, at the time of his sentencing, Zinkoski pled guilty to the motor vehicle offense of Driving While Intoxicated; Como consecuencia, Judge Fritch suspended Zinkoski’s driving privileges for a term of seven months.
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 motor vehicle crash with serious injuries. An investigation by the Plumsted Township Police Department revealed that a Volvo XC6, operado por 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 bodily injuries; she 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 where he was treated for his injuries and released.
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 Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad 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.
En Agosto 8, 2023, a warrant was issued for Zinkoski’s arrest, y su nombre fue ingresado en la base de datos del Centro de Información del Crimen Nacional. En Agosto 22, 2023, Zinkoski surrendered himself, in the presence of his attorney, to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. Fue transportado a la cárcel del condado de Ocean y posteriormente liberado como consecuencia de la reforma de la fianza de Nueva Jersey..
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Chief Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler who handled the case on behalf of the State, y elogia la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean Mayor Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Departamento de policía del municipio desplomado, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Zinkoski’s guilty plea, y ahora su sentencia de prisión estatal.