TOMS RIVER, NJ – On Friday, Michael Pillarella, a 28-year-old resident of Manahawkin, was sentenced to 17 years in New Jersey State Prison by Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. Pillarella had been previously found guilty of manslaughter and assault by auto charges in connection with a motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a juvenile victim on January 30, 2021, in Little Egg Harbor Township.
As per the No Early Release Act, Pillarella will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before being considered for parole eligibility. Judge Ryan also sentenced him to four years in New Jersey State Prison for the assault by auto charge in connection with the same motor vehicle crash. The sentences will run consecutively.
Pillarella was found guilty of both offenses on March 3, 2023, following a nearly three-week jury trial before Judge Ryan.
On January 30, 2021, at around 9:45 p.m., the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department received a report of a two-vehicle crash with serious injuries at Radio Road and Baltusrol Court. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Little Egg Harbor Police Department investigation revealed that Pillarella’s 2017 Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on Radio Road when he failed to negotiate a curve, crossed over the centerline, and struck an oncoming 2006 Toyota XB traveling southbound on Radio Road. The Toyota was operated by a female juvenile, and another female juvenile was a passenger in the vehicle.
As a result of the crash, both juveniles sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Pillarella was also airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Trauma Center in Atlantic City for treatment of his injuries from the crash. A warrant was obtained for a draw of Pillarella’s blood. However, Pillarella signed himself out of the hospital against medical advice. He was initially issued several motor vehicle summonses in connection with the crash.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Little Egg Harbor Police Department resulted in additional charges against Pillarella on February 1, 2021, for Aggravated Assault and Assault by Auto — two counts as to each offense relating to both juvenile victims. Pillarella was taken into custody without incident by officers from the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
On February 9, 2021, the female juvenile passenger in the Toyota XB died due to injuries sustained in the January 30, 2021 crash. She was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Consequently, the charges against Pillarella were upgraded to include Aggravated Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide in relation to the passenger victim.
On February 15, 2020, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received the laboratory results from Pillarella’s blood draw. Those results revealed that Pillarella was under the influence of a combination of Alprazolam, Methadone, Fentanyl, and alcohol at the time of the crash, and that he was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of the State of New Jersey. Further investigation also revealed that Pillarella was operating his motor vehicle at an excessive speed of approximately 80 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
