Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 8, 2023, Avrohom Pam, 21, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to 364 days in the Ocean County Jail – as a condition of a three-year term of probation imposed in connection with his previously entered guilty pleas to Reckless Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto. Those guilty pleas relate to a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood Township in the early evening hours of June 11, 2021, resulting in the death of Sean Avon, 26, of Brick Township. Pam pled guilty to the charges before Judge Palmer on June 19, 2023.
On June 11, 2021, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to the area of Lanes Mills Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit – Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that Pam was operating a 2021 Ford Van in the rightmost lane of travel on Lanes Mills Road, when he struck a 2019 Honda CRV being driven by John Arendt, Jr., 73, of Brick Township. The force of the collision propelled Mr. Arendt’s vehicle into the northbound lane of traffic, where it struck a 2012 Ford Mustang head-on being operated by Mr. Avon.
Mr. Avon suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash; he was transported to Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township, where he succumbed to his injuries. Mr. Arendt was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was treated for his injuries and released. Pam remained on the scene and did not require medical attention.
An investigation conducted by the aforementioned law enforcement agencies revealed that a verbal altercation had occurred between Pam and Mr. Arendt which precipitated the motor vehicle crash, and that Pam’s reckless driving was the cause of this crash – resulting in Mr. Avon’s death.
On June 12, 2022, Pam was charged and subsequently processed at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy who handled the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit – Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined assistance in connection with this investigation and prosecution.