Parsippany Teen Indicted Following Fatal Hit-And-Run In Ocean County

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A Parsippany teen, accused of fleeing the scene of a crash on Route 37 in Ocean County that left a woman dead and a passenger seriously injured, has been indicted, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Abel Mathukutty, 18, of Lake Hiawatha in Parsippany-Troy Hills, was initially 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.

On June 11, after police said he was speeding during the crash, he received the additional charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto, which can result in five to ten years of prison time if convicted.

He appeared in Ocean County Court on Thursday, where a Grand Jury deemed there was sufficient evidence to move to trial, indicting him.

The charges stem from an incident that happened on the night of March 24 in Toms River, when police found a Mercedes had crashed into a utility pole near 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.