TOMS RIVER – A Lavallette man was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and possession with the intent to distribute Xanx pills and for hindering apprehension.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today that Brian Kosanke, 39, that beyond the referenced charged he was arrested and also charged with with driving while intoxicated after borough police were summoned to Route 35 North and Guyer on October 19.
Police responded around 6:30 p.m., on a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle with serious injuries. The officers discovered Thomas Castronovo, 80, of Warren, had been struck by a vehicle driven by Kosanke. Castronovo was administered lifesaving procedures from first responders and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he died later.
An investigation by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lavallette Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that Kosanke was traveling north bound on Route 35 when he struck Castronovo as he was crossing at Guyer Avenue.
[adrotate banner="278"] Kosanke agreed to submit to a blood sample and was transported to the hospital for same. The results of the blood sample revealed that Kosanke was under the influence of Xanax, Cocaine, Fentanyl and Gabapentin when he struck Castronovo. A warrant was issued for Kosanke’s arrest and he was apprehended on November 7. During the course of this arrest, officers found a quantity of Xanax on his person packaged for distribution.
It was also determined by the detectives through surveillance camera footage that prior to police arriving on October 19, Kosanke removed something from his vehicle. Further investigation showed that he had taken Heroin from his vehicle and hid it on the side of the road, which he later retrieved after he was released from the hospital. Kosanke is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lavallette Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their assistance in this investigation.
