As a New Jersey drunk driving defense attorney, I know that injuring or killing another person as a result of a drunken driving accident is a serious situation; one that usually requires the services of a qualified legal representative, such as a DWI and drug DUI lawyer. When the case involves the injury or death of a law enforcement officer, there really is no question about retaining the services of a lawyer well versed in drunk driving law.
No matter where in the state a DWI accident occurs, be it Ocean, Middlesex, Somerset or Morris County, NJ, courts are quite strict in fatal DWI and drug DUI crashes. One such case is now in the making down in Toms River, New Jersey. According to news reports, an individual was arrested in connection with the death of an Ocean Gate patrolman on Thanksgiving morning.
Based on news articles, 31-year-old Erick Uzcategui of Manchester, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and drunk driving following the November 25 car crash that reportedly killed Officer Jason C. Marles. Police reports showed that the accident happened around 3am as Marles was on his way home from his shift.
Traveling northbound along the Garden State Parkway through South Toms River, Marles’ Jeep Cherokee was apparently struck from behind by a BMW reportedly driven by Uzcategui. The impact forced the Jeep into a guardrail, after which the officer’s vehicle went off the road and overturned. The Jeep hit a nearby pine tree and burst into flames. Marles died as a result of the crash.
According to police, four passengers in Uzcategui’s car fled on foot following the accident, however all of them were apprehended by State Police not long after. Uzcategui himself was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and DWI. At the time of the news reports, the accident was still under investigation and the suspect had been released on $250,000 bond.
Suspect released in DWI fatal that left Ocean Gate officer dead, APP.com, December 12, 2010