Cop Charged With Homicide For Crash That Killed Stanhope Woman

STANHOPE, NJ - Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey has charged a Long Branch police officer with strict liability vehicular homicide after he drove drunk and struck and killed a Stanhope woman in September.

Jake Pascucci, 28, of Long Branch, was charged in the death of Karen Borkowski, 66, Stanhope, on Oct. 31. She died when she was struck by his 2016 Jeep as she tried to cross Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch on Sept. 22. Borkowski was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash which occurred at 8:15 p.m., according to the Prosecutor's Office's website.

Pascucci told officers at the scene last month that he had a green light and that Borkowski was jaywalking, according to dashboard camera video obtained by nj.com. He was later charged with drunk driving, careless driving and reckless driving.

Borkowski was remembered as a kindhearted women and devoted grandmother who doted over her two grandsons. According to an obituary:

Karen always took care of everyone around her. She was a devoted grandmother who helped care for her two grandsons; taking them on and off the buses, taking them to therapies & after school activities. She encouraged them to explore & learn during outings and she taught them to love living life. She was a full time caregiver for her husband and Kathie. She was always generous with her time and always shared her love. She helped others realize their full potential in all she did. Karen was a Eucharistic minister, Girl Scout leader, Red Cross instructor, swim instructor, a volunteer for "Family Promise" but most importantly, she enjoyed spending time and playing with her grandsons.

The case against Pascucci was transferred to Middlesex County to avoid a conflict of interest. The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-8842.

With reporting by Patricia A. Miller (Patch Staff)

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