Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Press Release
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 7, 2025, a juvenile was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Aggravated Manslaughter, four counts of Aggravated Assault Causing Bodily Injury while Eluding, two counts of Death by Auto, two counts of Causing Death While Driving Unlicensed, two counts of Causing Injury While Driving Unlicensed, two counts of Aggravated Assault Manifesting Extreme Indifference to the Value of Human Life, Eluding, and four counts of Assault by Auto, all in connection with a series of incidents that occurred in Toms River, Seaside Heights, and Lavallette, during the evening hours of March 7, 2025.
On March 7, 2025, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department observed a white BMW traveling eastbound over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop, but the vehicle continued traveling northbound on Route 35 at a high rate of speed; the pursuit was terminated for safety concerns. Officers notified law enforcement in neighboring towns of the offending vehicle. A short time later, the same BMW was observed traveling southbound on Route 35 by Seaside Heights Police Officers.
The vehicle was observed to be traveling at approximately 118 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. Toms River Township Police units were stationed on the westbound side of the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge, where they observed the BMW continue to travel at a high rate of speed westbound on Route 37. Officers followed the vehicle from a distance, but did not pursue for safety reasons.
At approximately 10:58 p.m., the BMW crashed into a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166. Officers attempted to render aid at the scene, but it was discovered that the driver and front seat passenger of the Toyota Camry were deceased. Two backseat passengers in the Toyota were severely injured and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune for treatment of their injuries. They are both listed in critical condition.
The driver of the BMW was uninjured and was detained by police. The front seat passenger in the BMW was transported to JSUMC for his injuries; he was treated and released. The backseat passenger in the BMW was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was likewise treated and released.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Toms River Township Police Department revealed that the driver of the BMW was a juvenile, and did not possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license. In furtherance of the investigation, the juvenile was transported to Community Medical Center where a draw of his blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. The results of the blood draw remain pending. The juvenile was processed at Toms River Township Police Headquarters, and is currently lodged at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River Township Police Department, Seaside Heights Police Department, Lavallette Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
