Manchester man charged after fatal crash in Toms River leaves woman dead
Toms River, NJ – Monday night traffic along Lakewood Road turned fatal when a southbound sedan lost control and crossed into oncoming lanes, setting off a chain of events that ended with a 37-year-old Freehold woman dead and a Manchester man now facing homicide charges.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Daniel Cormier, 31, was charged on Sunday with vehicular homicide and strict liability vehicular homicide stemming from a March 7 crash at the intersection of Lakewood Road and Whitty Road.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 11:05 p.m., where investigators later determined that a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Cormier struck a guardrail on the passenger side while traveling southbound. The impact caused the vehicle to veer out of control and collide head-on with a northbound Honda Accord operated by Shamirah Nolan, 37, of Freehold.
Nolan was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where she was pronounced dead. Cormier was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with injuries that were not considered life-threatening and was later released.
At the crash site, officers observed signs that Cormier may have been impaired, prompting a court-authorized blood draw at the hospital. According to the prosecutor’s office, results received Sunday showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.09, exceeding New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08.
Toxicology findings also indicated the presence of Gabapentin and Hydrocodone in Cormier’s system, substances authorities say rendered him unfit to operate a vehicle at the time of the crash.
Following the results, Cormier surrendered to Toms River Township Police Headquarters on Sunday. He was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
The investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River Township Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Officials emphasized that the charges are accusations and that Cormier is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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Key Points
- Manchester man charged in connection with March 7 crash that killed a Freehold woman
- Blood alcohol level measured at 0.09 with additional drugs detected
- Defendant remains jailed pending detention hearing