6 Years in Prison for Marlboro Man in Fatal DUI

Marlboro, NJ - A Marlboro Township man who admitted he drove drunk down Rt. 34 through Holmdel, striking and killing another driver from Old Bridge, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday.

In January, Robert Pennington, 51, of Marlboro, pleaded guilty to second-degree Death by Auto and a motor vehicle summons for Driving While Intoxicated.

Pennington admitted that on December 5, 2014, he consumed more than seven beers at Fantasies strip club in Keyport before getting behind the wheel of his 2008 Chrysler Town and County minivan. He then drove the car down Rt. 34 in Holmdel, where he collided with another vehicle operated by the victim, Siva Kovvuri.

That crash took the live of Kovvuri, 32, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge.

The fatal collision occurred shortly before midnight near the intersection of East Lawn Drive in Holmdel. Kovvuri was driving a 2008 Hyundai Accent traveling north on Rt. 34, and Pennington was headed south. As Pennington approached a slight curve in the road, he failed to properly negotiate the bend and continued straight, veering over the yellow lines and striking the Hyundai head on.

Kovvuri, who was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, sustained significant traumatic injuries to his head, torso and extremities. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Pennington was transported to Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel as a precaution and was later released without injuries.

Pennington must serve no less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed, or five years and one month, before he is eligible for parole.