Bayville Woman Dies On Route 9 After Being Struck By Distracted Driver

by Patricia A. Miller

A Bayville woman died and another man was injured when they tried to cross Route 9 at the intersection with Frederick Drive on Saturday night, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Denise Iesals, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:18 p.m., shortly after the 8:59 p.m. accident, Al Della Fave said.

Also hit was Nelson Negron Jr, 51, Little Egg Harbor. Negron was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was listed in critical condition, Della Fave said.

The two pedestrians were struck by a 2009 Hyundai Sonata driven by Alexander Aguilar, 22, Bayville. Aguilar was traveling south when he approached the center line of the roadway and hit Iesals and Negron in the southbound lane, Della Fave said.

“Preliminarily it appears that Aguilar was distracted just prior to the crash and as per the state motor vehicle code, failed to stop for pedestrians while crossing within a designated crosswalk,” Della Fave said. ”Criminal charges may be pending the blood results and a full review of the accident investigation facts by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.”

Both Iesals and Negron were trying to cross in an easterly direction within the designated crosswalk when they were hit, he said.

Aguilar, a Domino’s Pizza employee, was returning from a delivery he had just made when the crash occurred. He was uninjured and showed no signs of impairment. Police found no evidence that Aguilar had been using his cell phone at the time of the crash, Della Fave said.

Aguilar told police that just before the crash, he was looking down counting the tip he had just received from his delivery.

When he looked up, he saw a female in front of his vehicle and was unable to avoid her. Aguilar did not know he struck a second person until he exited his vehicle and saw the two of them unconscious in the roadway, Della Fave said.

Aguilar was taken to Community Medical Center where he provided a blood sample for later testing.