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

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man is facing multiple charges after a Route 37 crash on Friday that killed another Toms River man, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jamie Doyle, 40, has been charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license while involved in a motor vehicle crash causing the death of another, and multiple motor vehicle offenses, including driving while suspended, and driving while intoxicated in the crash that happened about 8:50 p.m. Friday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Ronald Bucher, 76, was killed in the crash that happened at the intersection of Route 37 and Romano Lane, the prosecutor's office said.

Bucher was driving a red Chevrolet Trax and was crossing Route 37 south on Romana Lane 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.

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 disregarded multiple traffic signals prior to 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.

Further investigation found Doyle was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license at the time of the crash, authorities said.

Doyle's blood was drawn at Community Medical Center pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant and the results of the blood draw remain pending, the prosecutor's office said.

Doyle, who also has been charged with reckless driving, careless driving, and failure to observe a traffic control device, is in the custody of the Toms River Township Police Department while he remains in the hospital, the prosecutor's office said. Once he is released from the hospital he will be taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain lodged pending a detention hearing.

The prosecutor's office said the investigation is continuing and there could be additional charges filed.

The Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit collaborated on the investigation.