BRICK – An Eatontown woman has been charged with Vehicular Homicide and more after police discovered she was intoxicated while driving, which resulted in the death of a senior.
On May 9, the Brick Township Police Department arrived at the intersection of Lanes Mill Road and Greenwood Loop regarding a serious car crash with injuries.
After investigating the crash, police determined that Ashley Watkins, 30, of Eatontown was driving southwest on Lanes Mill Road when she crossed the center line of the roadway and collided head-on with a Caravan.
The driver of the van, Terry Penrod, 78, of Brick, sustained a broken leg and was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment. The passenger in the car, Terry’s wife Nancy Penrod, was transported to Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Watkins had minor injuries from the crash and was taken to Ocean Medical Center for treatment. While at the hospital she consented to a draw of her blood. On June 2, the results revealed fentanyl, diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and marijuana in her blood stream. These results determined that Watkins was unfit to safely operate a car at the time of the crash.
On June 4, detectives arrived at Watkins home and arrested her. She was charged with Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto. In addition, she was issued a summons for Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lane.
Watkins was processed at Brick Township Police Headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Brick Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.
