TOMS RIVER – A woman responsible for killing a man after hitting him while driving under the influence has plead guilty, officials said.
Ashley Beams, 32, of Toms River, pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide in connection with a crash that occurred on February 8, 2022. At the time of her sentencing on September 15, the State will be seeking a term of six years New Jersey State Prison.
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 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, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends 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 collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Beams’ guilty pleas, and soon her state prison sentence.
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