Long Branch Man Pleads Guilty To Causing The Death Of Monmouth University Student

A Long Branch man pleaded guilty Friday to vehicular homicide in causing the Sept. 11, 2013 death of a Monmouth University student, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Joseph Stovall, 48, admitted he caused the death of Victoria Tropper, 21, of Marlboro. He also pleaded guilty to fourth degree assault by auto when he injured Thomas E. Triano, 52, Cherry Hill and to being under the influence of illegally-obtained Xanax at the time of the accident, he said.

The fatal collision occurred while Tropper was outside her vehicle after a minor fender bender with another another vehicle on Joline Avenue in Long Branch, Gramiccioni said.

Long Branch police responded to the scene at 7:45 p.m. Tropper and Triano, 49, had both pulled their vehicles onto the shoulder to inspect the damage and exchange information. They were standing in between vehicles when Stovall's Dodge Ram pickup swerved into the shoulder, collided with Tropper's vehicle and pushed it into Triano. The impact killed Tropper and left Triano with multiple lacerations, Gramiccioni said.

Prosecutors are recommending that Stovall receive five years in state prison, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act, which would require him to serve 85 percent of his sentence. He would also be under parole supervision for three years after he is released, Gramiccioni said.