New Details Revealed In Drunk Driving Crash That Killed Road Worker In Toms River
TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Lakehurst man charged in a July crash that killed a man working at a road construction site didn't stop for 600 feet after hitting the man on Route 9 in Toms River, according to court documents.
That was among the new details revealed in the probable cause affidavit filed against Douglas P. Smith in the
Smith, 51, was charged Aug. 28 with vehicular homicide in Adams' death, after authorities received the results of blood tests showing he had a
Two women were arrested along with Smith: Amy M. Thorn, 56, and Tammie M. Malek, 46, both charged with hindering apprehension, the prosecutor's office said.
According to the affidavits, Smith was driving a 2017 Chevy Silverado north on Route 9 about 1 a.m. when he drove into an active NJDOT construction site near Dugan Lane. Adams, an employee of Earle Construction, was standing in the road "near a well-lit asphalt milling machine, wearing a reflective safety vest" when Smith hit him.
The machinery had flashing amber warning lights that were operating at the time, the prosecutor's office said.
After Smith hit Adams, he drove another 600 feet along Route 9 before stopping, the affidavit said.
As police officers spoke with him, they could smell alcohol "emanating from his breath," and his eyes were red and watery, according to the affidavit. Police performed field sobriety tests, with Smith matching six out of six showing impairment, the affidavit said. Authorities then sought a search warrant for a sample of his blood. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving that night, the prosecutor's office said.
In addition, the affidavit says Smith had a fictitious license plate number on the truck.
After the prosecutor's office received the results of the blood tests, they issued the vehicular homicide charge on Aug. 28.
On Aug. 29, authorities went to Thorn's apartment in Toms River looking for Smith. Thorn told police she had not seen him in several days, and Malek, who was present, told police she did not live at the apartment and did not have a consistent address, but sometimes stayed in Forked River, according to the affidavits.
Thorn promised to call the police if she saw Smith, the affidavit said.
On Sept. 3, Smith was found at Thorn's apartment and arrested, according to the affidavits. It does not say how they determined Smith was there but said he was staying with Thorn and Malek.
Thorn and Malek, who authorities said was living at the apartment as well in spite of what Malek told them, were both arrested as well.
Malek and Thorn have since been released from the Ocean County Jail, according to inmate records.
Smith remains in the Ocean County Jail, and according to jail records additional charges have been filed, including two counts of drug possession, two counts of paraphernalia, and a count of hindering.
