Prosecutor IDs Manchester Police Officer Driving Car That Killed Pedestrian

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office this morning released the name of the Manchester police officer who was behind the wheel of a police car that fatally struck an intoxicated man on Saturday night.

Patrolman Michael O’Hara was on his way to a call about 11:15 p.m. Saturday when Keith Atkinson Jr., 23, of Manchester was killed when he was struck by the passenger side of the police car, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.

O’Hara was driving to the 1400 block of New York Avenue to investigate a report of an intoxicated person entering a home when Atkinson was hit. Atkinson was wearing dark pants and was walking in the road, which was poorly lit, Della Fave said. O’Hara tried to tried to swerve to avoid hitting the man, DellaFave said.

The officer didn’t have his emergency lights on or sound his siren, DellaFave said.

O’Hara was on his way to investigate after a homeowner called to report an man had entered the caller’s home. Atkinson had entered a home that he thought was his friend’s residence. He was confused and intoxicated as he searched for his friend, Della Fave said.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Toms River Police Department are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call 732-929-2027.