BARNEGAT – A Barnegat man has been sentenced to state prison for seven years after driving while intoxicated, resulting in crashing his car and killing the passenger.
On March 25, 2020, the Stafford Township Police Department responded to a single vehicle crash on Stafford Avenue near Hilliard Boulevard.
An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Stafford Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that Jeydon Lowe, 25, of Barnegat, was traveling eastbound on Stafford Avenue at an extremely high rate of speed in a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. Lowe had lost control of the vehicle as he was attempting to navigate a right-hand turn, and crashed into a tree.
As a result of the crash, the passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, Robert Parlin, 24, of Little Egg Harbor, had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Lowe sustained minor injuries and was taken to Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean County Medical Center in Stafford Township.
Police later obtained a search warrant for a draw of Lowe’s blood. On April 14, 2020, the laboratory results revealed that Lowe had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of nearly .12 percent. An operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where his/her BAC is .08 or greater.
On April 1, 2021, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Lowe was sentenced to a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison as a result of a previously entered guilty plea to Vehicular Homicide. Additionally. Lowe’s driving privileges were suspended for five years in connection with his previously entered guilty plea to Driving While Intoxicated. Lowe pled guilty to both charges on January 27, 2021.
“This is an absolutely tragic case, which should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone who is tempted to drink and drive,” Prosecutor Billhimer said. “Let me be clear: drunk driving kills, and it has the potential to tear families apart. Sadly, these types of cases are wholly preventable, particularly in this day and age of Uber, Lyft and other readily available transportation services. While this young defendant will go to prison for a long time for his senseless conduct on the night in question, nothing will bring Mr. Parlin back to his family” Prosecutor Billhimer said.
