A former Ocean County resident has been indicted in connection with a 2022 Howell multi-vehicle collision that claimed the life of a male driver, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Wednesday.
Drew Peterson, 34, formerly of Jackson Township, now residing in Jensen Beach, Florida, was indicted on one count of second-degree Vehicular Manslaughter. After a lengthy review by a forensic toxicologist, the indictment was returned on Wednesday October 30, 2024. Peterson returned to New Jersey and was processed on Monday November 18, 2024.
On Friday, March 11, 2022, at approximately 12:05 a.m., a 2004 Ford F150 pickup driven by Peterson was travelling westbound on Route 33 just west of the Colts Neck Road intersection when it crossed the centerline and collided with a 2004 Kia Rio, sideswiping the vehicle. The pickup then continued westbound, again in the eastbound lanes, and struck in an offset head-on collision a 2010 Dodge Challenger driven by Robert C. Johnson, 50, of Neptune Township. The pickup overturned and Peterson was ejected from the vehicle.
As a result of the second collision, Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female driver of the Kia Rio was uninjured in the crash.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano of the Major Crimes Bureau. Peterson is represented by Mitchell J. Ansell, Esq., with an office in Ocean Township.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.