Ocean County, NJ – John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, turned himself in to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on August 22, in the presence of his attorney, facing charges of Vehicular Homicide and Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide. The charges stem from a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on May 12, in Plumsted Township, resulting in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills.
Officers from the Plumsted Township Police Department responded to the crash scene at the intersection of Pinehurst Road and Long Swamp Road at approximately 5:50 p.m.
The investigation revealed that Ms. Smith, operating a Volvo XC6, attempted a right-hand turn onto Pinehurst Road and was struck by a Nissan Frontier driven by Zinkoski, who was traveling southbound.
Ms. Smith sustained severe injuries and later died at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood. Zinkoski was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, treated, and released.
Laboratory tests revealed that Zinkoski’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) exceeded the legal limit of .08 in New Jersey at the time of the crash. The presence of cocaine and benzodiazepine was also detected in his blood. Further investigation determined that Zinkoski’s vehicle was traveling at an average speed of 86 miles-per-hour when the crash occurred.
Zinkoski, who was charged with these offenses on August 8 is currently held at the Ocean County Jail, pending a detention hearing.