A 16-year-old bochur was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Jackson Township on the second day of Shavuos.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Luke Ferrante, 47, of Spring Lake, has been charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, in connection with the incident.
The accident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, at the intersection of South New Prospect Road and Citadel Drive. Responding police officers found the bochur lying on the side of the roadway with serious head trauma. He was transported by emergency personnel to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he remains in stable condition. His name for tehillim is Aharon ben Sarah.
Shortly after the crash, police received a separate report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a Nissan Altima on Valley Road, about a half mile from the scene. Officers arriving at the second location observed significant front-end damage to the vehicle and identified the driver as Ferrante.
A preliminary investigation indicated that Ferrante had been driving northbound on South New Prospect Road when he veered over the white line onto the gravel shoulder and struck the victim, who had been walking along the road. Authorities say Ferrante fled the scene following the impact.
Ferrante was arrested without incident and was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia at the time of his apprehension. A court-authorized blood draw was conducted at Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus in Lakewood; toxicology results are pending.
He is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
SAFETY REMINDER: Walk facing traffic!