Drunk Driving In Fatal Atlantic Highlands Crash, Prosecutor Says

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Over the weekend, we reported that an Atlantic Highlands husband and wife were tragically killed Friday night, March 8 when they were hit by a car while trying to cross Hwy. 36 at Grand Avenue. Now on Monday, the county prosecutor is alleging that drunk driving was involved in the fatal incident.

A Belford man has been charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving in connection with the motor vehicle collision that resulted in the deaths of John Grogan, 60, and his wife, Barbara Grogan, 59, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

Dylan Rieger, 27, of Belford, has been charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

The Grogans live in Atlantic Highlands. The family is well known in the area, and Barbara Grogan worked as a teacher's aide at Atlantic Highlands Elementary School. The Atlantic Highlands Board of Education said they are grieving the loss of "a truly amazing member of our community."

The couple was attempting to cross the intersection from the northbound direction of State Highway 36 and Grand Avenue at approximately 7:50 p.m. Friday evening, when they were struck by an eastbound 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, driven by Rieger, said police.

Rieger was uninjured in the collision and remained on scene.

The area around the collision was closed down for approximately 5.5 hours for the investigation. The westbound lanes were reopened at 12:45 a.m. and the area was fully reopened at approximately 1:30 a.m.

Original Patch reporting: Atlantic Highlands Couple Killed By Car Friday Evening

The criminal investigation remains active and ongoing at this time by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic Highlands Police Department and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART).

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to assist the investigative team is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Agent Reginald Grant at 800-533-7443, or Atlantic Highlands Police Department Sergeant Brian Phair at 732-291-1212.