TOMS RIVER, N.J. — It was supposed to be a fun night out for two people at the Jersey Shore, but one North Jersey man’s reckless action left one woman dead and her passenger in critical condition.
An 18-year-old man from Lake Hiawatha has been charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash Saturday evening at the Jersey Shore that left a woman dead and a male passenger critically injured.
Abel Mathukutty was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death and leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. Saturday on Route 37 eastbound in Toms River. Responding officers found a white Mercedes sedan that had crashed into a utility pole. Both the female driver and male passenger suffered serious injuries. The driver died after being transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River. The passenger was later transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and is in critical condition.
An investigation determined that the Mercedes had been struck on the driver’s side by an Infiniti sedan, which then fled the scene eastbound across the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge. Law enforcement agencies were immediately notified, and a vehicle matching the suspect description was spotted shortly afterward.
At approximately 8:00 p.m., Seaside Park police stopped a damaged Infiniti with deployed airbags. Authorities confirmed the vehicle was involved in the earlier crash and identified Mathukutty as the driver at the time. He was taken into custody without incident.
Investigation and charges
Mathukutty was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing. Prosecutor Billhimer credited multiple agencies for their swift cooperation in the investigation, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River Police Department, Seaside Park Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
No further details about the victims have been released as authorities continue the investigation. It is not yet known whether additional charges will be filed.
