OCEAN COUNTY — A Toms River man has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide following a high-speed crash that left a 76-year-old township resident dead, authorities said.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Jamie Doyle, 40, was charged in connection with a January 23 collision at the intersection of Route 37 and Romana Lane.
Police said the crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. when a white Nissan Maxima traveling westbound on Route 37 struck a red Chevrolet Trax that was crossing the highway from Romana Lane. Investigators determined the Chevrolet had the right of way. The impact caused extensive damage, with intrusion into the passenger compartment of the smaller vehicle.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Ronald Bucher, 76, of Toms River, was extricated from the wreckage with critical injuries. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Doyle exhibited erratic behavior, slurred or irregular speech, and constricted pupils following the crash. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River with a broken femur and possible head injuries.
Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Vehicular Homicide Squad and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit assisted local police at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the Nissan driving erratically and running multiple traffic signals prior to the collision.
Further investigation revealed Doyle was driving with a suspended license. Data recovered from the vehicle showed the Nissan was traveling about 106 miles per hour five seconds before the crash and struck Bucher’s vehicle at approximately 65 miles per hour in a 50-mile-per-hour zone, prosecutors said.
Doyle was initially charged with driving while suspended in a fatal crash and issued multiple motor vehicle summonses, including reckless driving and failure to obey traffic signals. Those charges were upgraded following the speed analysis.
A blood sample was taken from Doyle pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. Results are pending.
Doyle remains in the custody of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office while receiving medical treatment and will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer praised the collaborative efforts of the Toms River Township Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.
