A South Toms River man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a June 7 incident that left a 57-year-old woman dead, Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced today.
According to authorities, police responded at approximately 3:50 a.m. to Colgate Drive in South Toms River for a report of a person struck by a vehicle. Officers found the victim, identified as Marie Bellavista of South Toms River, deceased in the roadway.
Investigators determined that the driver, identified as 41-year-old Tremel Haskins, was operating the cab of a Volvo semi-truck when he struck Bellavista before leaving the scene. Haskins was later located in the parking lot of a Walmart store on Route 37 in Toms River and taken into custody without incident. He was initially charged with several motor vehicle offenses, including driving while intoxicated and operating an unregistered vehicle.
A court-authorized blood draw conducted at Community Medical Center in Toms River indicated Haskins had an active THC level of 14 nanograms and a metabolite THC level of 100 nanograms at the time of the crash, suggesting recent marijuana use, the prosecutor’s office said.
During a search of the truck on June 9, detectives seized a loaded .38 caliber Colt revolver. Authorities said Haskins’ prior narcotics distribution convictions made it unlawful for him to possess a firearm. On June 17, he was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and being a certain person not to possess a weapon. He surrendered that day and was released under New Jersey’s bail reform provisions.
Following the receipt of laboratory results, a warrant for Haskins’ arrest on vehicular homicide charges was issued July 31. His name was entered into the National Crime Information Center database, and he was arrested August 11 by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
