Man Was Driving At High Speed Seconds Before Route 37 Fatal Crash, Prosecutor Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man who was driving with a suspended license and allegedly drunk was speeding at more than 100 mph ahead of a crash that Friday night that killed another Toms River man, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jamie Doyle, 40, is now charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide in the Route 37 crash that killed Ronald Bucher, 76, the prosecutor's office said.

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.

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. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of a broken femur and possible head injuries, the prosecutor's office said.

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.

Doyle remains hospitalized and in the custody of Ocean County Sheriff's officers, and when he is released fron the hospital will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail to await a detention hearing, the prosecutor's office said.

Prior reporting:

Toms River Man Killed As Drunk Driver Ran Red Light On Route 37, Prosecutor Says