Driver Indicted In Fatal Route 33 Crash In Howell In 2022

FREEHOLD, NJ — A former Ocean County man has been indicted in a 2022 crash in Howell that killed a Monmouth County man, authorities said Wednesday.

Drew Peterson, 34, formerly of Jackson, was indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury on a count of second-degree vehicular manslaughter in the death of Robert C. Johnson, 50, of Neptune Township, in the multi-vehicle crash on March 11, 2022, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said.

Peterson, who now lives in Jensen Beach, Florida, was indicted Oct. 30 following a lengthy review by a forensic toxicologist, the prosecutor's office said.

Peterson returned to New Jersey and was processed on Monday, the prosecutor's office said.

The crash happened at 12:05 a.m. March 11, 2022, authorities said. Peterson was driving a 2004 Ford F150 pickup west on Route 33 when he crossed the centerline and sideswiped a 2004 Kia Rio, just west of the Colts Neck Road intersection, authorities said.

The pickup truck kept going west, still in the eastbound lanes, and hit a 2010 Dodge Challenger driven by Johnson head-on, authorities said.

Johnson died at the scene of the crash, authorities said. Peterson's pickup truck overturned and he was thrown from the truck, authorities said.

The woman who was driving the Kia Rio was not hurt, authorities said.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano of the Major Crimes Bureau. Peterson is represented by Mitchell J. Ansell, Esq., with an office in Ocean Township.