Beachwood Man Charged In Fatal DWI Crash Turns Himself In

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Beachwood man accused of speeding and driving while intoxicated in a fatal crash in May has turned himself in to authorities, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

John D. Zinkoski, 41, turned himself in Tuesday to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, accompanied by his attorney, in connection with the May 12 crash in Plumsted Township that killed Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Zinkoski was charged on Aug. 8 with vehicular homicide and strict liability vehicular homicide in connection with the crash and a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Billhimer said.

The crash happened about 5:50 p.m. on May 12 in the area of Pinehurst Road and Long Swamp Road in Plumsted, authorities have said.

Smith, who was driving a Volvo XC6, was trying to turn right onto Pinehurst Road when her car was hit by a Nissan Frontier driven by Zinkoski, who was driving south on Pinehurst Road.

Authorities have said the crash investigation found Zinkoski was driving 86 mph at the time of the crash.

Smith was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she died of significant injuries she suffered in the crash, Billhimer has said.

Zinkoski was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

At the hospital his blood was drawn and laboratory results found his blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit, the prosecutor said. A driver is considered intoxicated with a BAC of .08 or greater.

Billhimer said the lab results also showed cocaine and benzodiazepine in Zinkoski’s blood at the time of the crash.

Zinkoski is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.