TOMS RIVER — A Lakehurst man who struck and killed a construction worker while driving under the influence has been sentenced to nine years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Douglas Smith, 52, received the sentence Oct. 23 from Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in August. Smith must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Smith also pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated at his sentencing. Palmer suspended his driving privileges for 10 years.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. July 31, 2025, near Lakewood Road and Raymond Avenue. Responding Toms River police officers found Allen Adams, 50, of Lumberton Township, seriously injured in the roadway. He was taken to Community Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators determined Adams was working in a construction zone along Lakewood Road when Smith’s northbound vehicle struck him. Construction equipment at the site had flashing amber warning lights, authorities said.
Police found Smith and his vehicle a short distance north of the crash scene. Officers observed signs of impairment and initially charged him with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
A blood sample obtained at the hospital under a court-authorized warrant showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.151%, according to prosecutors. Testing also detected cocaine, fentanyl and methadone.
Authorities charged Smith with vehicular homicide on Aug. 28, 2025. Members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and Toms River police arrested him Sept. 3 at a Toms River residence without incident. He had remained in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill handled the prosecution.
