A reckless, high-speed chase across Ocean County ended in catastrophe late Friday night, leaving two people dead, two others critically injured, and a juvenile facing a staggering list of charges.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the chaos began at approximately 10:45 p.m. Friday night, when officers from the Toms River Police Department spotted a white BMW racing eastbound over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge. The driver, later identified as a juvenile without a valid license, ignored police attempts to pull over and instead accelerated northbound on Route 35, forcing authorities to call off the pursuit due to safety concerns.
Moments later, the same BMW was spotted tearing through Seaside Heights at an astonishing 118 miles per hour—on a road where the speed limit is just 35 mph. With law enforcement tracking its reckless trajectory, the vehicle was last seen barreling westbound on Route 37.
At 10:58 p.m., the BMW slammed into a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166. The impact was devastating. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Toyota were killed instantly. Two backseat passengers sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where they remain in grave condition.
In a grim contrast, the juvenile driver of the BMW walked away unscathed. Police detained him at the scene, while two of his passengers were transported to area hospitals, treated, and released.
Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad quickly determined that the suspect—who was unlicensed—had recklessly endangered countless lives. A court-authorized warrant was obtained for a blood draw, the results of which remain pending.
Now, the juvenile faces a litany of serious charges, including: Two counts of Aggravated Manslaughter; Four counts of Aggravated Assault Causing Bodily Injury While Eluding; Two counts of Death by Auto; Two counts of Causing Death While Driving Unlicensed; Two counts of Causing Injury While Driving Unlicensed; Two counts of Aggravated Assault Manifesting Extreme; Indifference to Human Life; Eluding Police; Four counts of Assault by Auto.
He is currently being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.