El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en mayo 24, 2025, Abel Mathukutty, 18, of Lake Hiawatha, was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Causing Death, as well as Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Causing Serious Bodily Injury, both in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Toms River on May 24, 2025.
En mayo 24, 2025, aproximadamente a 7:25 pm., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 37 eastbound for a report of a motor vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole. Responding Officers discovered that a white Mercedes sedan, occupied by a female driver and a male passenger – both of whom had sustained serious injuries – had crashed into a utility pole. Both occupants were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where the female driver succumbed to her injuries. The male passenger was then transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, donde figura en estado crítico.
An investigation by the Ocean County Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Departamento de policía del municipio de Toms River, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, revealed that an Infinity sedan had struck the Mercedes on the driver’s side, causing the Mercedes to crash into the utility pole. The Infinity sedan then fled the scene and continued eastbound, traveling over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge. A description of the vehicle was broadcast to surrounding towns. Aproximadamente a 8:00 pm., Officers from the Seaside Park Police Department effectuated a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle. Officers noted that the vehicle had sustained heavy passenger side damage and that the airbags in the vehicle had been deployed. Continuing investigation revealed that this vehicle was, En realidad, the same vehicle involved in the earlier crash, and that Mathukutty was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. Mathukutty was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Fue transportado a la cárcel del condado de Ocean, donde actualmente está alojado en espera de una audiencia de detención..
El Fiscal Billhimer elogia a la Unidad de Delitos Mayores-Escuadrón de Homicidios Vehiculares de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Toms River, Departamento de policía de Seaside Park, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, por su asistencia combinada en relación con esta investigación.
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).