A Toms River woman convicted in connection with a multi-vehicle crash that killed two people in Manchester Township in 2022 was sentenced Friday to five years of probation and had her driver’s license suspended for two years, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Brad Billhimer said Danielle Bowker, 30, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Dina M. Vicari following her conviction on two counts of third-degree vehicular homicide. The charges stem from a March 29, 2022 crash that resulted in the deaths of Michael Sadis, 48, and Paul Lamberti, 58, both of Toms River.
At sentencing, the State sought a more severe penalty, arguing for three-year New Jersey State Prison terms for each victim, to be served consecutively. Judge Vicari instead imposed a probationary sentence and ordered Bowker’s driving privileges suspended for two years.
Bowker was found guilty on Oct. 2, 2025, after a nearly five-week jury trial before Judge Vicari.
Authorities said the crash occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of Whitesville Road and Route 571. Manchester Township police officers responding to the scene determined that five vehicles were involved.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit found that Bowker was operating a 2018 Honda Civic westbound on Route 571 when she failed to maintain her lane while negotiating a right-hand curve. The Honda struck a New Jersey Department of Transportation Ford F-550 pickup truck traveling eastbound and operated by Eduardo Rivera, 30, of Hamilton Township. Daniel Septor, 26, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township, was a passenger in the truck.
Investigators said the impact caused the Ford F-550 to lose control and strike a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by Sadis, forcing that vehicle off the roadway into an embankment. The Ford F-550 then continued and struck a 2015 Toyota Corolla operated by Lamberti.
Sadis was pronounced dead at the scene. Lamberti was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he later died from his injuries. Rivera and Septor were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of minor injuries.
Bowker also sustained minor injuries and was taken to Community Medical Center, where she was treated and released.
On June 21, 2022, Bowker was charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide, and two counts of assault by auto. She surrendered to Manchester Township Police Headquarters with her attorney that day, was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released under New Jersey’s bail reform provisions.
She was indicted on Feb. 15, 2023, and all charges were presented to the jury at trial. The jury ultimately returned guilty verdicts on two counts of third-degree vehicular homicide.