Prosecutor: Manchester, N.J. Police Car Strikes And Kills Intoxicated Man

A Manchester police officer on his way to a call fatally struck an intoxicated man with his police car Saturday night, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Keith Atkinson Jr., 23, of Manchester was killed when he was struck by the passenger side of the police car, authorities said.

The police officer was driving to the 1400 block of New York Avenue at about 11:15 p.m. to investigate a report of an intoxicated person entering a home, authorities said.

Atkinson was wearing dark pants and was walking in the road when police approached the neighborhood, according to Al DellaFave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

The road was poorly lit, and the officer tried to swerve to avoid hitting the man, DellaFave said. The officer didn’t have his emergency lights on or sound his siren, he said.

Atkinson had entered a home that he thought was his friend’s residence. He was confused and intoxicated as searched for his friend, Della Fave said.

The homeowner confronted him, and the man walked away. A call was made to the Manchester Police Department, which soon arrived on the scene, DellaFave 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.