TOMS RIVER — A Toms River man has been indicted in connection with a January crash that killed a 76-year-old township resident, authorities said.
Jamie Doyle, 40, was indicted May 28 by an Ocean County grand jury on charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license while involved in a fatal crash, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
The charges stem from a January 23 crash at Romana Lane and Route 37 westbound in Toms River that killed Ronald Bucher, 76, of Toms River.
Police responded to the intersection at about 8:50 p.m. and found a white Nissan Maxima and a red Chevrolet Trax with heavy damage. Bucher, who was driving the Chevrolet, had to be removed from the vehicle. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead.
Doyle, who was driving the Nissan, showed signs of impairment at the scene, including erratic behavior, irregular speech and constricted pupils, authorities said. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of a broken femur and possible head injuries.
Investigators determined the Nissan was traveling west on Route 37 when it struck the driver’s side of the Chevrolet, which was traveling south on Romana Lane and crossing Route 37 with the right of way, authorities said. The impact caused major intrusion into the Chevrolet.
Witnesses told investigators the Nissan was being driven erratically and had gone through multiple traffic signals before the crash. Authorities also determined Doyle was driving with a suspended license.
A blood draw obtained under a court-authorized search warrant showed PCP and MDMA in Doyle’s system, authorities said.
Doyle was initially charged Jan. 23 with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license while involved in a crash causing death, along with several motor vehicle offenses, including driving while suspended, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and failure to observe a traffic control device.
Further investigation found Doyle was driving about 106 mph five seconds before the crash and struck Bucher’s vehicle at about 65 mph, authorities said. The posted speed limit on Route 37 west is 50 mph. The findings led prosecutors to upgrade the charges to aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
After being released from the hospital, Doyle was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he has remained detained since Jan. 30.
Billhimer credited Senior Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke with presenting the case to the grand jury. He also commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River police, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the investigation.
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