UPDATE: Authorities Seek Nissan Or Infiniti In Fatal Route 70 Hit-And-Run

TOMS RIVER, NJ — (UPDATE, 5:15 p.m.) The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office issued an update saying the vehicle sought in the fatal Route 70 hit-and-run may be either a late-model Nissan Altima or an Infiniti.

"Additional analysis by a vehicle identification expert has changed the suspect vehicle ID to include a later model Nissan Altima or an Infiniti sedan," said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

The car is blue and would have driver's side front-end damage, he said.

PREVIOUSLY: Authorities have released the identity of a man who died in a hit-and-run crash on Route 70 late Tuesday night.

John Ekarius, 34, of the Dover Woods, Toms River, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a joint release from Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato and Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little.

The search continues for the car that is believed to have suffered serious front-end damage in the incident, Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said. A plastic piece of a front bumper was located at the scene, authorities have said.

Ekarius was hit shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday on Route 70 under the Route 9 overpass by the Infiniti, which was westbound on Route 70, Della Fave said. Ekarius was then struck by two more vehicles, whose drivers stopped and tried to render assistance, he said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 p.m., DellaFave said.

No witnesses to the initial impact were identified at the scene, authorities have said.

Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating eyewitnesses. Anyone with information is asked to contact Toms River Patrolman Mark Nater at 732-349-0150, ext. 1336, or the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027.

Toms River police, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Sheriff's Crime Scene Investigation units all responded to the incident, authorities said.
This is a developing investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.

The main photo is a 2016 model year cobalt blue Infiniti Q50; authorities are seeking a similar one or a Nissan Altima in the hit-and-run. Photo provided by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office