LAKEWOOD – A 31-year-old with a record of driving infractions was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for fatally striking a teenager with his vehicle, and leaving the scene.
Alexander Politan, 31, of Toms River, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, J.S.C., to seven years in New Jersey State Prison. He will also lose his license for six months.
In February, he had pleaded guilty to Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death, as well as Driving with a Suspended License.
According to police, a father and son were walking east along Oak Street on Oct. 4, 2019, when they were both struck by Politan’s Jeep as it was traveling east. The vehicle was last seen fleeing the area, south on Albert Avenue.
The father, identified as 37-year-old Jesus Lopez-Ramirez of Lakewood, sustained an injury to his elbow and was transported to a local hospital for treatment and further evaluation. However, his 15-year-old son Jesus Lopez-Grande suffered significant bodily injury. Life-saving measures were not successful and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Police noted that vehicle debris was left at the scene, enabling detectives to determine that they belonged to a black 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Authorities located the vehicle a few days later in the driveway of an unoccupied residence on New Hampshire Avenue in Toms River. The black Jeep Cherokee had damage to the passenger side.
Further investigation revealed that Politan was operating the vehicle when it struck the family members. Police located and arrested Politan and he was processed at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters.
Motor Vehicle Commission records show that Politan’s driving privileges were suspended on Sept. 18 after he failed to appear in court in Neptune City on a summons he received Dec. 8, 2018 for delaying traffic.
Jersey Shore Online made inquiries to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Politan has had his driving privileges suspended five times for failure to appear in court alongside various summonses for unsafe driving.
For example, within a two-month period, he received three summonses:
- Oct. 15, 2018: Summons for failure to obey a directional signal, in Eatontown
- Oct. 17, 2018: Summons for improper turn on a green arrow/traffic control, in Neptune Township
- Dec. 8, 2018: Summons for delaying traffic in Neptune City.
Politan was also discovered to have the following:
- Nov. 20, 2013: Court-ordered suspension for failure to appear in Neptune Township. That suspension was lifted April 30, 2015.
- Dec. 22, 2011: Court-ordered suspension for failure to appear in Neptune City. That suspension was lifted Sept. 19, 2013.
- Oct. 22, 2010: Cited for failure to appear and summonses for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in Neptune Township
- Oct. 11, 2010: Cited for careless driving in Mansfield, Burlington County
- Oct. 7, 2009: Cited for having an unsafe vehicle in a crash in Neptune Township
- Oct. 30, 2008: Summons for careless driving in a crash in Eatontown.
- Febraury 2008: Driving privileges suspended for failure to pay an insurance surcharge from a June 2007 crash where Politan received a summons for following too closely.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer thanked Senior Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, and extended his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Toms River Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their combined efforts in securing this state prison sentence.
