Long Branch Man Gets Five Years In Xanax-Related Driving Death

A Long Branch man who struck and killed a Monmouth University student while he was driving under the influence of unprescribed Xanax will spend the next five years in state prison, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Joseph Stovall, 48, must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole under the state's No Early Release Act. Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard W. English also suspended Stovall's license for the rest of his life. He will never be able to drive in New Jersey. He was also sentenced to three years parole after he is released from prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Victoria Tropper, 21, of Marlboro and Thomas Triano, 49, Cherry Hill, had pulled over on the shoulder of Joline Avenue after they were involved in a minor accident at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2013.

The two were standing between their respective vehicles when Stovall swerved onto the shoulder in a Dodge Ram pickup truck and collided with Tropper's vehicle. The impact pushed Tropper's car into Triano, who suffered multiple lacerations, then struck and killed Tropper, Gramiccioni said.

In June, Stovall pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide in connection with
Tropper's death fourth-degree assault by auto for Triano's injuries, the prosecutor said.
Stovall admitted during his plea he was driving under the influence of Xanax despite not having
a valid prescription for the drug, Gramiccioni said.

Image: Patch file photo.