Arrest Made In 2nd Rt. 9 Pedestrian Death In Old Bridge

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A Colts Neck man who police say was speeding and driving drunk was charged Friday with hitting and killing a man on Rt. 9 in Old Bridge.

Police say at 1:25 a.m. on January 28, John DeTulio, 36, of Colts Neck was driving at a high rate of speed on Rt. 9, and under the influence of alcohol. Near the intersection of Ferry Road, he struck and killed Harvey Berse, 69, of Old Bridge.

DeTulio was also issued a motor vehicle summons for driving while intoxicated.

The Old Bridge man had been walking along Rt. 9. It is not clear if he was walking on the side of the road or trying to cross.

On Friday, DeTulio was taken into police custody and charged with one count of second-degree vehicular homicide.

This is the second time in less than a month that someone was killed on Rt. 9 and in both times, the fatal accidents happened on the exact same stretch of Rt. 9, near Ferry Road.

The second death happened at 6:45 a.m. Feb. 15: Police got a 911 call from drivers who said they saw the body of a man lying on the center median of Rt. 9 near Ferry Road. Upon arrival, police located Anthony Allen, 64, of Asbury Park, who had been struck by a car and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say Prince Fitzpatrick, 21, of Manalapan, hit Allen and drove away.

Also this week, Fitzpatrick was taken into police custody and charged with second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree endangering an injured victim.

Both men have been taken to the Middlesex County Jail.

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