Marlboro Man Admits to DWI That Killed Old Bridge Man

Marlboro Township, NJ - A Marlboro Township man admitted he drank seven beers in a Keyport strip club before he drove drunk on Rt. 34 and killed a 32-year-old man in a head-on collision.

The fatal DUI crash happened on Dec. 5, 2014. Robert A. Pennington, 51, of Marlboro, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree death by auto and driving while intoxicated, the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Pennington admitted that on Dec. 5, 2014, he consumed more than seven beers during the several hours he spent at Fantasies, a gentleman’s club in Keyport. He then got behind the wheel of his 2008 Chrysler Town and County minivan. Pennington drove the minivan south on Rt. 34 in Holmdel, and as he approached a slight curve in the road, he failed to properly negotiate the bend and continued straight, crossing over the double yellow line and into the opposing lane of traffic.

That’s where he struck a 2008 Hyundai Accent head-on, the prosecutor said. The fatal collision occurred shortly before midnight near the intersection of East Lawn Drive.

Siva Kovvuri, 32, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge Township, was driving alone in the Hyundai, traveling north on Rt. 34. He was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, but sustained significant traumatic injuries to his head, torso and extremities. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pennington, by contrast, sustained no injuries in the accident, but was transported to Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel as a precaution. He was later released without injuries. After the crash, a blood sample taken revealed that Pennington had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .258 percent, over three times the legal limit in New Jersey.

Pennington will be sentenced on April 1. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors will recommend that a term of seven years.