Lavallette Man Indicted, Was High On Xanax In Fatal Rt. 35 Crash

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Lavallette man has been indicted on charges of vehicular homicide in connection with an October crash that killed a North Jersey man as he crossed Route 35.

Brian Kosanke, 39, was indicted Wednesday in the death of Thomas Castronovo, 83, of Warren, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.

Kosanke was indicted on vehicular homicide; strict liability vehicular homicide; possession with intent to distribute Xanax; possession of Xanax; and hindering apprehension or prosecution, Billhimer said. He also is facing the motor vehicle charge of driving while intoxicated, he said.

Kosanke was driving north on Route 35 about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 when he hit Castronovo as he crossed at Guyer Avenue. First responders tried to save his life, but Castronovo died at Community Medical Center in Toms River of his injuries.

Castronovo, who was the founder and longtime owner of Warren's Edgewood Pharmacy, was a familiar figure in the Lavallette community, where he and his family owned a home. He enjoyed tending to his flower garden and spending time with family there.

Kosanke agreed to submit to a blood sample and was taken to the hospital to have it drawn; the results showed Kosanke was under the influence of Xanax, cocaine, fentanyl and gabapentin when he struck Castronovo, Billhimer said. He was arrested Nov. 7. During the arrest, officers found Kosanke in possession of Xanax that was packaged for distribution.

Detectives also determined through surveillance camera footage that prior to police arriving at the crash, Kosanke removed something from his vehicle. The investigation found it was heroin, which Kosanke hid on the side of the road and then retrieved after he was released from the hospital, Billhimer said.

Kosanke is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending his arraignment.

The investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Lavallette Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Billhimer also praised Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron's work.

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