Woman Indicted In Seaside Heights Crash That Killed Popular Restaurant Owner

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Seaside Park woman accused of hitting and killing a popular Ocean County restaurant owner and fishing icon has been indicted on multiple charges in the Seaside Heights crash, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Genell A. McInaw, 51, was indicted Wednesday by an Ocean County grand jury on charges of vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, and knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death in connection with the Sept. 23 crash that led to the death of Robert Popovics, 75, of Seaside Park, the prosecutor's office said.

Seaside Heights police were called to the area of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 for a report of a man lying in the road and found the man, later identified as Popovics, unconscious with serious injuries, the prosecutor's office said.

McInaw was arrested and initially charged that night.

Popovics, owner of Shady Rest restaurant on Route 9 in Bayville and a well-known saltwater fly fisherman and fly tier, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. He died Nov. 1, after being transferred from the hospital to hospice care. Read more: Bayville Restaurant Owner, Fishing Icon, Dies After Hit-And-Run

Popovics had just left Klee's and was crossing the Boulevard when he was hit at 9:28 p.m., according to the probable cause affidavit. Police responded three minutes later and Popovics was flown to the hospital. A review of the security footage at Klee's showed a gray sedan going south and hitting him, the affidavit said.

Police then looked at surveillance cameras in the area and found the gray sedan in the parking lot at Hooks, and a woman getting in and driving out of the parking lot two minutes before Popovics was hit, the affidavit said.

The investigation led them to McInaw, who had been an employee at Shady Rest. Detectives determined that over the course of about six hours Mcinaw had consumed nine alcoholic drinks, including two beers and two "cherry bombs" between 8:40 p.m. and 9:16 p.m., shortly before hitting Popovics, according to the affidavit.

When police went to Mcinaw's home in Seaside Park, they found the car with circular damage to the windshield on the driver's side. When they spoke to Mcinaw, she admitted knowing she'd hit someone.

"She started to say 'I know ...' and Detective (Andy) Hartnett asked 'Know what?' " the affidavit said. "McInaw uttered words to the effect of 'I know I ran over someone.' "

"She related that she stopped, did not get out of her vehicle, and proceeded home," where she "was disheveled and went to sleep," the affidavit said.

The charges were upgraded after Popovics died.

Her blood alcohol concentration was determined to be .187, more than double the 0.08 percent where a driver is considered legally intoxicated in New Jersey, according to the laboratory results of McInaw’s blood draw.

McInaw was held in the Ocean County Jail but released to await trial during her detention hearing. Her next court date was not announced.

Previous reporting:

• Man, 75, 'Critical' After Hit-And-Run In Seaside Heights; Woman Charged
• Woman Charged In Seaside Heights Hit-And-Run Knew She Hit Someone: Affidavit
• Bayville Restaurant Owner, Fishing Icon, Dies After Hit-And-Run
• Funeral, Memorial Scholarship Set For Late Bayville Restaurant Owner
• Woman's Charges Upgraded In Seaside Heights Hit-Run After Restaurant Owner, Fisherman Dies
• Woman Charged In Fatal Seaside Heights Hit-Run Of Restaurant Owner Released: Report