MANCHESTER – A Toms River woman has been indicted for Vehicular Homicide after she allegedly caused a crash that killed two people.
Danielle Bowker, 30, was indicted on two counts of Vehicular Homicide, two counts of Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, and two counts of Assault by Auto, in connection with a crash that occurred in Manchester Township on March 29, 2022.
Around 7:15 a.m., police responded to the area of Whitesville Road and Route 571 regarding a multi-car crash.
According to police, Bowker’s Honda Civic was heading west on 571, but didn’t maintain her lane while negotiating a right-hand curve.
The Civic hit a pick-up truck owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. It was being driven east on 571 by Eduardo Rivera, 30, of Hamilton Township. Daniel Septor, 26, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township, was a passenger in the Ford F-550.
The pick-up lost control and hit two cars: a Toyota Corolla driven by Michael Sadis, 48, of Toms River; and a Toyota Camry driven by Paul Lamberti, 58, also of Toms River. As a result, they both died from their injuries.
Police had blood drawn from Bowker while she was recovering from minor injuries at Community Medical Center in Toms River. The test indicated that she had used marijuana recently.
The State’s psychopharmacologist rendered an opinion that at the time of the crash, Bowker’s faculties were impaired due to the effects of marijuana intoxication, and that she could not safely operate a motor vehicle, police said.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron who presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Bowker’s indictment.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
