Parsippany Teen Faces Homicide Charge After Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A Parsippany teen, accused of fleeing the scene of a crash on Route 37 in Ocean County that left a woman dead and her passenger seriously injured, is now facing charges additional charges, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Abel Mathukutty, 18, of Lake Hiawatha in Parsippany-Troy Hills, now faces the additional charge of vehicular homicide and assault by auto, a charge that can result in five to ten years of prison time.

Mathukutty was originally charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing serious bodily injury.

The charges relate to an incident that happened on the night of March 24 in Toms River, when police found a Mercedes that had crashed into a utility pole around Route 37 eastbound.

Inside the Mercedes was driver Deborah Barone, 59, and passenger Michael Barone, 64, both of Toms River.

The occupants both "sustained major bodily injuries" and were taken to the Community Medical Center in Toms River.

Deborah Barone died as a result of her injuries, and Michael Barone was treated and eventually released.

An investigation into the crash revealed that an Infinity sedan had hit the Mercedes on the driver’s side, causing the Mercedes to crash into the utility pole.

The Infinity sedan then left the scene and continued eastbound, going over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge, authorities said.

A description of the suspected vehicle was sent out to police, and officers from the Seaside Park Police Department pulled over a car matching the description later that night.

Officials said that the Infinity sedan, driven by Mathukutty, had "sustained heavy passenger side damage and that the airbags in the vehicle had been deployed," and it was determined that it was in fact the vehicle that caused the crash, according to Ocean County’s Prosecutor’s Office.

Mathukutty was then arrested and charged without incident and taken to the Ocean County Jail. He was soon released due to the New Jersey Bail Reform.

A further investigation revealed that Mathukutty had been traveling at 76 mph at the time of the crash, 26 mph over the speed limit on Route 37.

As a result of his speeding during the accident, Mathukutty received the additional charge of vehicular homicide and assault on June 11.

He is currently awaiting court proceedings, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.