TOMS RIVER – A Jackson man was indicted on Feb. 5 on multiple charges including vehicular homicide related to an Oct. 15 accident in Toms River where a man died.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Douglas Thompson, 55, was also indicted for strict liability vehicular homicide; and causing a death while driving with a suspended license.
During the incident in October, Toms River Police were dispatched to the intersection of Route 9 and Stevens Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident. Thomas Marciano, 65, Toms River, was stopped behind a motor vehicle making a left-hand turn when he was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Thompson.
Marciano was transported to Community Medical Center and was subsequently flown to Jersey Shore Medical Center due to the severity of his injuries which he ultimately succumbed to on October 28, 2019.
Following the crash on Oct. 15, Thompson submitted to chemical breath testing which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .17 percent – more than double the legal limit under New Jersey law. As a result, he was initially charged with driving while under the Influence of alcohol, reckless driving, careless driving, as well as operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.
As a result of Marciano’s death 13 days after the crash, Thompson was additionally charged with vehicular homicide and strict liability homicide on Nov. 8, 2019. He was arrested at his Jackson residence by members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Toms River Township Police Department.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron who is handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Toms River Township Police Department Traffic Safety Division, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River EMS, and Silverton EMS for their collective assistance in this investigation leading to Thompson’s indictment.
