TOMS RIVER — A Manchester Township man is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities say he caused a head-on crash while driving on the wrong side of Route 37, then ran from the scene and injured a police K-9 during his arrest.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that Andrew Gajewski, 30, was charged following the Monday night crash that left one person seriously injured.
Police were called to the area of Route 37 and Batchelor Street around 8:30 p.m. on May 18 for reports of a serious collision. Investigators said a 2022 Ford F-150 driven by Gajewski slammed head-on into a 2021 GMC Acadia.
According to authorities, Gajewski fled the scene on foot before officers arrived.
The driver of the GMC was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and was listed in stable condition. A passenger in the GMC and a passenger in the Ford were both treated at Community Medical Center in Toms River and later released.
Investigators said Gajewski was eventually found in a wooded area near the crash scene, where he allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted a Toms River police K-9 during the confrontation. He was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered during the apprehension.
Officers reportedly observed signs of intoxication, and authorities obtained a court-approved warrant to draw Gajewski’s blood as part of the investigation.
A joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River police, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Gajewski was allegedly driving in the wrong lane at the time of the crash. Detectives also said he had been speeding and driving recklessly shortly before impact.
Gajewski was charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury, three counts of assault by auto, resisting arrest, and injuring an animal used by a law enforcement agency. He also received several motor vehicle summonses, including reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain lane, leaving the scene of an injury crash, and failure to report an accident.
Authorities said Gajewski remains hospitalized under police custody. Once released, he will be lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors said additional charges could be filed.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations and Gajewski is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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