Man Took Off After Hitting, Killing Toms River Pedestrian: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Seaside Park man is accused of hitting a Toms River man with his truck and then walking away from the scene of the fatal crash on Route 166 in Toms River on Sunday, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

John P. Marrone, 68, of Seaside Park, has been charged with causing death or injury while driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death in connection with the crash that happened Sunday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Gonzalo Jimenez-Hernandez, 48, of Toms River, stepped into the road on Route 166 near Old Freehold Road and was hit by a black Ford F-150 that was headed north on Route 166 about 2:50 p.m. Sunday, Billhimer said.

Jimenez-Hernandez was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead, the prosecutor said.

The Ford F-150 left the scene, Billhimer said, but was found at a nearby apartment complex, with no one inside the truck.

Detectives determined the Ford F-150 was registered to Marrone and found him a short time later on foot near where the truck was parked, Billhimer said. He was arrested and taken to Community Medical Center, where his blood was drawn pursuant to a court-authorized warrant, the prosecutor said.

The results of the blood draw remain pending, he said.

Marrone is being held at the Ocean County jail awaiting a detention hearing, Billhimer said.

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