Prosecutor: Ocean County, NJ, Driver Crashes and Flees, Passenger Later Dies
Authorities in Ocean County say a driver from Lakewood has been charged for leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in his passenger dying.
The accident happened just before 2:30 early Saturday morning, July 22nd, on James Street in Lakewood Township.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, 26-year-old Angel Garcia-Rodriguez was driving a 2007 Honda Civic westbound on James Street when he lost control and struck a utility pole on the passenger side door.
Police say Garcia-Rodriguez fled before they arrived and inside the vehicle, they found a critically injured man in the passenger seat. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he died from his injuries.
Garcia-Rodriguez was ultimately located at a home in Lakewood and taken into custody without incident.
From there, he was taken to Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus in Lakewood where a court-authorized sample of his blood was taken.
Garcia-Rodriguez was then transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is currently being held pending a detention hearing.
- NJ DRIVERS: These 12 Roads are the Most Hated in the State
He has been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in a death as well as endangering an injured victim.
The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
