More Charges For South River Woman Accused Of Killing Man In DWI

SOUTH RIVER, NJ — A South River woman who was charged earlier this month with hitting and killing a recycling collector while she was allegedly driving drunk has now been hit with more serious charges:

Phyllis Kocheran, 52, of South River, is now charged with reckless manslaughter in the second degree and vehicular homicide in the second degree, the Middlesex County prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

As Patch reported, she has already been charged with driving while intoxicated in the fatal accident, which occurred Thursday, May 3 at 11:17 in the morning. South River detectives say that Kocheran was driving a blue 2011 Jeep Wrangler on Pulawski Avenue in South River when she struck William Oross, who was picking up recycling in the area at the time. The 49-year-old North Brunswick man worked for Solterra recycling company.

Oross was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital after he was hit, but was pronounced dead from his injuries at the hospital, police said. An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force impact from being hit by the Jeep.

Kocheran was held Tuesday at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending her detention hearing, which was pushed back to this Friday, May 18 in New Brunswick.

Oross, known as "Wild Bill" to his friends and family, was remembered in a loving obituary as an avid fisherman who lived life by a unique motto: "Loved by few, hated by many, respected by all." Oross lived much of his life in Spotswood before recently moving to North Brunswick.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Guiamano at (732) 238-1000, or Detective Morris (732) 745-4194.

Is Your Dog The Best? Enter Patch's Top Dog In NJ Contest

Photo of victim William Oross used with permission from Brunswick Memorial Home.