oli C e B lotter Driver In Fatal Ocean County Crash Indicted For Vehicular Homicide

By Alyssa Riccardi

TOMS RIVER – A woman responsible for killing a man after hitting him while driving under the influence has been indicted for Vehicular Homicide, officials said.

Ashley Beams, 32, of Toms River, was indicted on the charges of Vehicular Homicide and Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide in connection with a crash that occurred on February 8, 2022. The crash took place near Twin Oaks Drive in the area of Bay Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. Beams was driving east on Bay Avenue when she failed to maintain her lane and entered the shoulder.

As a result, she hit James Cruz, 62, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge Township, who at the time was getting a package out of his car.

Cruz was pinned between the two vehicles and was carried a significant distance eastbound on Bay Avenue before the cars came to rest, officials said. Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene.

Beams was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of injuries she sustained in the crash.

At the hospital, it was learned that Beams’ Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was higher than the legal limit of .08.

On February 16, 2022, Beams was arrested at her home by detectives and was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron who presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State, and commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their assistance in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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School: Continued From Page 1

other districts don’t deserve the funds they got, but it’s a broken system,” he said.

Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill said the township’s Land Use Committee is in favor of the purchase, but it will be done on contingent of an appraisal, like any other purchase.

“We have adequate funds for the purchase,” he said.

The township has an open space tax of 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This would be used to purchase this land.

Hill asked Citta to come talk to the Council about it that evening. Council President Matthew Lotano explained that the reason it wasn’t on the agenda for the meeting is because the discussions for it only happened hours before.

After the council heard his case, Citta said he would talk to his Board of Education about it. A few of them were in the audience of the meeting but not necessarily in an official capacity.

A similar situation is unfolding in Jackson. They also got hit hard by S-2. They were looking at a $2.5 million cut in aid before the bill was passed that would return 66%.

Therefore, they are selling approximately 114 acres to the town for about $1 million, which will also come from their open space fund.

Jackson Council President Martin Flemming explained that “the parcels (of land) were being held for future expansion but that isn’t happening now.”

Superintendent Nicole Pormilli told The Jackson Times that the purchase that was being negotiated includes small parcels of district-owned land that have been sitting dormant for decades and that the district cannot use for any purpose. That land will add new hiking and biking rails along with playgrounds for public use. Earlier in the year, the Jackson superintendent brought up the possibility of selling Rosenauer Elementary School to make up for the state aid loss.

-Bob Vosseller contributed to this story