MANCHESTER – A Howell man has been indicted for Vehicular Homicide after he allegedly drove a utility terrain vehicle into a lake while intoxicated, killing the passenger.
On the evening of December 12, 2021, 43-year-old Stephen McGuire of Howell was driving the UTV with 62-year-old James Grover, also of Howell, police said. There were also three minors in the vehicle with them.
After driving into the lake on the Heritage Minerals property on Route 70, the vehicle became submerged and Grover did not resurface. Other passengers and members of the group attempted to locate Grover but were unsuccessful.
Manchester Township Police and members of the Manchester, Ridgeway and Whiting Volunteer Fire Companies conducted an underwater dive search and rescue operation. They found the vehicle overturned and submerged in 25 feet of water. Grover was still strapped in with a safety harness. Life saving measures were conducted but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was later learned that McGuire had a blood alcohol concentration of .127 percent, which is over the legal limit of .08.
McGuire was previously charged with Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Criminal Trespass, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Intoxicated with a Minor as a Passenger, and Reckless Driving.
On January 27, McGuire was indicted on the charges of Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide as well as three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron and Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Manchester Volunteer Fire Company, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their collaborative efforts relative to this investigation resulting in McGuire’s indictment.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
