Tragic Accident on Route 37: Toms River Man Loses Life to Drunk Driver

Tragic Accident on Route 37: Toms River Man Loses Life to Drunk Driver

The driver, whose license was suspended, was hospitalized after the crash; witnesses said he ran several red lights, the prosecutor said.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, a Toms River man is facing several charges following a collision on Route 37 on Friday that claimed the life of another Toms River man.

According to Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Jamie Doyle, 40, has been charged with multiple motor vehicle offenses, including driving while suspended and driving while intoxicated, as well as operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license while involved in a collision that resulted in another person's death. The collision occurred around 8:50 p.m. on Friday.

According to the prosecutor's office, Ronald Bucher, 76, was killed in the collision near the intersection of Route 37 and Romano Lane.

Bucher was traveling south on Romana Lane in a red Chevrolet Trax when Doyle's white Nissan Maxima, traveling west on Route 37, struck his SUV on the driver's side.

According to investigators, Bucher had the right of way.

According to investigators, Bucher's SUV experienced "significant intrusion that extended into the passenger side compartment" as a result of the impact's severity. According to the prosecutor's office, Bucher needed to be extricated due to serious injuries, and attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

According to the prosecutor's office, witnesses informed authorities that the Nissan was being driven erratically and that the driver had ignored several traffic signals before the collision.

Doyle exhibited abnormal conduct, uneven speech, and constricted pupils at the scene, according to Toms River police officers. According to the prosecutor's office, he was sent to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of a fractured femur and potential brain injuries.

According to officials, additional inquiry revealed that Doyle was driving the car while his license was suspended at the time of the collision.

Doyle's blood was taken at Community Medical Center in accordance with a court-issued search order; the results of the blood draw are still pending. Doyle is being held in custody by the Toms River Township Police Department while he is still in the hospital. He has also been charged with reckless driving, careless driving, and failing to observe a traffic control device. He will be brought to the Ocean County Jail after being discharged from the hospital, where he will be held until a detention hearing.

The prosecutor's office said the investigation is continuing and there could be additional charges filed.

The Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit collaborated on the investigation.