Teenager Charged in Fatal High-Speed Collision in Ocean County

Teen Charged After Fatal Hit-And-Run on Route 37

Teenager Charged in Fatal High-Speed Collision in Ocean County

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that a teenager from Morris County has been charged in connection with a high-speed collision on Route 37 in May that killed a woman from Toms River and injured her husband.

In the crash that killed Deborah Barone, 59, and injured her husband, Michael Barone, 64, Abel B. Mathukutty, 18, of Lake Hiawatha, was charged on Thursday with vehicular homicide, assault by auto, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing serious bodily injury, according to prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

According to officials, Mathukutty was traveling at 76 mph on Route 37 when the collision occurred on May 24 at approximately 7:25 p.m. on the eastbound lanes of Route 37, just west of the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge into Seaside Heights. 50 mph is the posted speed limit on Route 37.

Investigators discovered that Mathukutty struck the driver's side of a Mercedes vehicle while operating an Infiniti automobile. The Barones were brought to Community Medical Center in Toms River after the Mercedes struck a utility pole due to the impact, which caused serious injuries, according to investigators.

According to authorities, Deborah Barone passed away there from her wounds. After being moved to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Michael Barone was eventually discharged from the hospital.

According to the prosecutor's office, Mathukutty struck the Barones' vehicle and then fled into Seaside Heights across the bridge.

Around 8 p.m., Seaside Park police officers stopped a car that fit the description of the Infiniti after it was aired to other communities, according to the prosecutor's office. According to the prosecutor's office, Seaside Park police concluded that the Infiniti was the vehicle involved in the Route 37 collision after observing that the car had significant passenger-side damage and that the airbags had inflated.

Following the collision, Mathukutty was transported to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River for arrest; however, he was eventually freed in accordance with New Jersey Bail Reform regulations. According to authorities at the time, he received a summons in June along with further charges.

Mathukutty admitted to investigators about the crash, according to the probable cause affidavit and criminal complaint that were submitted at the time of his original arrest.