Driver In High-Speed, Drunken Crash On Route 37 Ordered Held Until Trial

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man who authorities say was driving under the influence when he ran a red light on Route 37 and crashed into another vehicle, killing another man, has been ordered held until trial, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Jamie P. Doyle, 40, was ordered held on the charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license while involved in a motor vehicle crash causing death in the Jan. 23 crash that killed Ronald Bucher, 76, of Toms River, the prosecutor's office said.

The detention hearing before Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels was held after Doyle was released from Community Medical Center, where he was being treated for a broken femur suffered in the crash.

Bucher was driving a red Chevrolet Trax and was crossing Route 37 south on Romana Lane about 8:50 p.m. Friday when his SUV was hit on the driver's side by a white Nissan Maxima driven by Doyle, who was driving west on Route 37, the prosecutor's office said. Bucher had the right of way, authorities said.

Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the investigation found that 5 seconds before the crash Doyle was speeding at 106 mph and was going 65 mph when he hit Bucher's Chevrolet. The speed limit on Route 37 is 50 mph.

The force of the impact caused " significant intrusion that extended into the passenger side compartment" of Bucher's SUV, authorities said. Bucher had to be extricated and had significant injuries, and life-saving measures were attempted but were not successful, the prosecutor's office said.

Bucher was taken to Community Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m., according to the probable cause affidavit.

Witnesses told authorities that the Nissan was being driven erratically and the driver had ignored multiple traffic signals before the crash, the prosecutor's office said.

Toms River police officers said Doyle displayed erratic behavior, irregular speech, and constricted pupils at the scene. Doyle initially was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license while involved in a motor vehicle crash causing the death of another, driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended, along with multiple motor vehicle offenses, the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities are still waiting for the lab results on blood drawn under a court-authorized search warrant at the hospital, the prosecutor's office said.

Prior reporting:

• Toms River Man Killed As Drunk Driver Ran Red Light On Route 37, Prosecutor Says
• Man Was Driving At High Speed Seconds Before Route 37 Fatal Crash, Prosecutor Says