Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 3, 2025, Mark Carey, Jr., 21, of South Amboy, pled guilty to Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in the Death of Another before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., in connection with a fatal hit and run crash that occurred on January 13, 2024, in the area of Route 35 South and Bay Avenue in Brick Township. At the time of his sentencing on June 13, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of six years New Jersey State Prison.
On January 13, 2024, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Officers from the Brick Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 35 South and Bay Avenue for a hit and run collision involving a pedestrian. Responding Officers discovered that a vehicle had struck a female pedestrian, later identified as Julia Sutton, 56, of Weehawken, Hudson County, in the shoulder of the roadway and then fled the scene. Ms. Sutton was taken to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township, where she was pronounced deceased.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Brick Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that the vehicle which struck and killed the victim was a 1999 Ford Explorer registered to Carey. Further investigation identified Carey as the individual who operated the subject Ford Explorer at the time of the crash which resulted in Ms. Sutton’s death. Carey was taken into custody at his home in South Amboy without incident, and thereafter processed at Brick Township Police Headquarters. Carey was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Jaime Schron and Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Brick Township Police Department, Bay Head Police Department, Lavallette Police Department, Seaside Heights Police Department, Seaside Park Police Department, Mantoloking Police Department, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Vehicle Services Department, and City of South Amboy Police Department, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Carey’s guilty plea – and soon his state prison sentence.