Ocean County Man Held Without Bail in Fatal Route 37 Crash

Jamie P. Doyle Held Without Bail in Fatal Route 37 Crash Case

Ocean County Man Held Without Bail in Fatal Route 37 Crash

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that a Toms River man who was allegedly driving under the influence when he ran a red light on Route 37 and collided with another car, killing another man, has been placed under arrest pending trial.

According to the prosecutor's office, Jamie P. Doyle, 40, was placed under arrest on charges of vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license while participating in a fatal motor vehicle collision on January 23 that claimed the life of Ronald Bucher, 76, of Toms River.

Following Doyle's discharge from Community Medical Center, where he was receiving treatment for a broken femur sustained in the collision, Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels heard the detention hearing.

Around 8:50 p.m. on Friday, Doyle's white Nissan Maxima, traveling west on Route 37, struck Bucher's red Chevrolet Trax on the driver's side as he was crossing the highway south on Romana Lane, according to the prosecutor's office. According to investigators, Bucher had the right of way.

According to prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the investigation revealed that Doyle struck Bucher's Chevrolet five seconds before to the collision while traveling at 106 mph and 65 mph. 50 mph is the posted speed limit on Route 37.

According to investigators, the impact's force resulted in "significant intrusion that extended into the passenger side compartment" of Bucher's SUV. Bucher suffered serious injuries and had to be removed; attempts at life-saving measures were unsuccessful.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Bucher was transferred to Community Medical Center and declared dead at 9:33 p.m.

According to the prosecutor's office, witnesses reported that the driver had disregarded several traffic signals prior to the collision and that the Nissan was being driven recklessly.

Doyle exhibited abnormal conduct, uneven speech, and constricted pupils at the scene, according to Toms River police officers. According to the prosecutor's office, Doyle was first accused of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license while involved in a collision that resulted in the death of another person, driving while inebriated, and driving while suspended, in addition to several other motor vehicle violations.

According to the prosecutor's office, authorities are still awaiting the lab findings of blood taken at the hospital using a court-authorized search order.