Freehold Pedestrian Killed In Route 9 DWI Crash: Authorities

HOWELL, NJ — A 53-year-old Freehold man was struck and killed on Route 9 early Saturday morning by an Ocean County woman who authorities allege was driving under the influence.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni withheld the man's name pending notification of family members, but said he was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:08 a.m. The man was crossing the intersection of Route 9 and New Friendship Road at 12:36 a.m. Saturday when he was hit in the southbound right lane by a 2010 Mini Cooper driven by Juanean Perez, 21, of Jackson, Gramiccioni said.

Howell Township Police Chief Andrew J. Kudrick Jr. said the man was discovered by Howell Patrolman Michael Maccia, who was headed north on Route 9 and was forced to swerve to avoid what appeared to be a blanket in the road.

Maccia quickly realized it wasn't a blanket but a human body, Kudrick said, so he turned around at New Friendship Road and discovered vehicle debris and a backpack lying in the southbound lanes.

Maccia had passed a car with a damaged headlight and windshield not long before he came upon the body, Kudrick said, and as Maccia was confirming the man had died, Patrolman Michael Silvani located the car in the Walmart parking lot with its driver, Perez, standing beside the car, he said.

Perez was arrested and charged with suspected operation while under the influence, Kudrick said, and additional motor vehicle and criminal charges are pending, he said.

“The exceptional work by my fellow officers turned a potentially complex investigation into a quick resolution,” Kudrick said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), and Howell Police Department, Gramiccioni said.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information to assist the investigative team is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Kristian DeVito at 800-533-7443 or Howell Police Department Officer Matthew Cherney at 732-938-4575.

Image via Shutterstock