Driver Was High In Crash That Killed Waretown Mom, Child: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Little Egg Harbor man was driving under the influence in the July Freehold crash that killed a Waretown mother and her 3-year-old daughter, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

Thomas F. Polson, 53, of Little Egg Harbor, was charged on Dec. 16 with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, one count of third-degree hindering apprehension, two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto and one count of fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

The charges come from a three-car crash on July 14 where Polson's Ford F350 pickup truck left the southbound lane of Siloam Road and struck a Honda CR-V SUV driven by a 34-year-old Jackson man with a glancing blow before colliding head-on with a Chrysler Pacifica minivan driven by Denise James, 42, of Ocean Township (Ocean County), Santiago said. Read More: Mother Dies, Children Injured In Three-Car Freehold Township Crash

James was pronounced dead at the scene, and her 3-year-old was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center via medical helicopter where she later died from her injuries, Santiago said.

Her other two children, ages 9 and 13, were also taken to Jersey Shore for treatment and were later released, Santiago said.

A GoFundMe for the family raised more than $100,000. The daughter, Lily, became an organ donor.

The New Jersey Superior Officers Law Enforcement Association organized the fundraiser for the James family, said union President Edward Sullivan. Lt. Craig James is a corrections police lieutenant, assigned in a management role at the Avenel Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Sullivan said at the time.

Sullivan said at the time he was touched by the comments about Denise James on the fundraiser.

From what people have said, he learned that Denise James was a nurse who "had a significant impact on people's lives," he said.

Polson is lodged at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court, Santiago said.

According to Santiago, convictions on second-degree criminal charges of this nature are commonly punishable by up to 10 years in a state prison and are subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act" (NERA) requiring a defendant to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole.

This article contains additional reporting by Pat McDaniel.