A Toms River lady has been arrested and charged with DWI and having a Blood Alcohol Content material 3 times the authorized restrict when she struck a person who had stepped out of his car to retrieve one thing on the facet of Bay Avenue on February 8.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer introduced Wednesday that on February 16, 2022, Ashley Beams, 31, of Toms River has additionally been charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Vehicular Murder, Reckless Driving, Failure to Preserve Lane, Careless Driving, Failure to Put on a Seatbelt, and Strict Legal responsibility Vehicular Murder in connection to a motorcar crash that later claimed the life of James Cruz, 62, of the Parlin part of Previous Bridge Township.
On the night time of the accident, simply earlier than 10:30 pm, Beams was driving east on Bay Avenue heading in direction of Twin Oaks Drive, however after passing that avenue, she went off the street and into the shoulder the place she hit Cruz, who was outdoors of his car at the moment selecting one thing up that got here out of his trunk, based on the investigation by Toms River Police, the Ocean County Prosecutors Workplace Vehicular Murder Unit, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
When Beams hit Cruz, he grew to become pinned between the 2 automobiles and ended up being carried on account of the hit, a major distance east alongside Bay Avenue.
Police stated that he was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Beams was introduced to Jersey Shore College Medical Heart in Neptune for remedy of her accidents, and for a draw of blood.
Prosecutor Billhimer stated that the blood draw revealed that Beams had a Blood Alcohol Focus (BAC) of .32 % and that in New Jersey, an operator of a motorcar is presumed to be over the authorized restrict for functions of alcohol consumption the place his/her BAC is .08 or larger.
On Wednesday, Beams was arrested by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Workplace Vehicular Murder Unit at her residence and charged.
Beams was introduced to the Ocean County Jail, the place she stays pending a detention listening to.
(Photograph Courtesy: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Workplace)
