El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en junio 24, 2021, Michael Pillarella, 27, de Manahawkin, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on the charge of Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1), in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Little Egg Harbor Township during the evening hours of January 30, 2021 – resulting in the death of a female juvenile victim. Pillarella was also indicted on charges of Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a; Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3; Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); and Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1C(2).
En enero 30, 2021, aproximadamente a 9:45 pm., officers from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded to the area of Radio Road and Baltusrol Court for a report of a two-vehicle crash with serious injuries. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Little Egg Harbor Police Department revealed that a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, operado por Pillarella, viajaba en dirección norte por Radio Road cuando no pudo tomar una curva en la carretera, cruzó la línea central, y chocó contra un 2006 Toyota XB travelling southbound on Radio Road. The Toyota XB was operated by a juvenile, and there was also a juvenile passenger in the vehicle. As a result of the crash, Ambos menores sufrieron heridas graves y posteriormente fueron trasladados en avión al Centro Médico de la Universidad de Jersey Shore en Neptune..
Pillarella was airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Trauma Center in Atlantic City for treatment of his injuries from the crash. A warrant was obtained for a draw of Pillarella’s blood. Pillarella was treated and released from the hospital, and was initially issued several motor vehicle summonses.
Una investigación adicional realizada por la Unidad de Homicidios Vehiculares de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean y el Departamento de Policía de Little Egg Harbor resultó en la presentación de cargos adicionales contra Pillarella en febrero. 1, 2021 for Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1) and Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1C(2) — two counts as to each offense relating to both juvenile victims. Pillarella was taken into custody without incident on that date by officers from the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, y ha estado alojado en la cárcel del condado de Ocean desde su arresto..
En febrero 9, 2021, La pasajera menor del Toyota XB sucumbió a las heridas que sufrió como resultado del accidente de enero. 30, 2021 crash. She was pronounced deceased at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. As a consequence, the charges against Pillarella were upgraded to include Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1) and Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a relative to the female juvenile passenger. The charges of Aggravated Assault and Assault by Auto are in connection with the female juvenile driver – who continues to recover from her serious injuries – remained in force and effect.
En febrero 15, 2020, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received the laboratory results relative to Pillarella’s blood draw; those results revealed that Pillarella was under the influence of Alprazolam, Metadona, and Fentanyl at the time of the crash, and that he was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of the State of New Jersey. Additionally, further investigation revealed that Pillarella was operating his motor vehicle at an excessive rate of speed – aproximadamente 74 miles per hour at the time of the crash – for which he was charged with Speeding in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-98.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara who are handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Unidad de Defensa de Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Little Egg Harbor, Policía Estatal de Nueva Jersey, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation resulting in today’s indictment.
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).