TOMS RIVER — A South Toms River man has been indicted by an Ocean County Grand Jury in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a borough woman earlier this year, authorities said.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that 41-year-old Tremel Haskins was indicted October 30 on charges of vehicular homicide, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being a certain person not to possess a weapon. The charges stem from the June 7 death of 57-year-old Marie Bellavista of South Toms River.
Police said officers responded to Colgate Drive around 3:50 a.m. that day and found Bellavista dead in the roadway after being struck by a vehicle. Investigators later determined that Haskins had been driving the cab of a Volvo semi-truck when he hit the victim and fled the scene.
Detectives found Haskins and the truck parked at the Walmart on Route 37 in Toms River, where he was arrested without incident. He was initially charged with several motor vehicle offenses, including driving while intoxicated, careless driving, and operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
A subsequent search of the truck uncovered a loaded .38-caliber revolver, and investigators learned Haskins had prior drug distribution convictions that barred him from owning a firearm. He was later charged with the additional weapons offenses.
Toxicology tests showed Haskins had active THC levels indicating recent marijuana use, prosecutors said, suggesting he was impaired at the time of the crash.
After a warrant was issued for his arrest in late July, Haskins was taken into custody by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on August 11 and has remained in the Ocean County Jail since then.
Billhimer credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill for presenting the case to the Grand Jury and commended the efforts of multiple agencies, including the South Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office units, the U.S. Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
