By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on June 20, Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson, was charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Which Resulted in Serious Bodily Injury to Another Person, in connection with an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of June 16, 2024, in Lakewood Township.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that on June 16, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to the area of Route 9 and First Street for a report of a hit-and-run motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.
Responding Officers discovered that a white four-door sedan was traveling northbound on Route 9 when it struck a male victim who was attempting to cross Route 9 in a marked crosswalk, officials stated.
Officials said the white sedan continued northbound on Route 9 and left the scene.
As a result of the crash, the victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries, officials say.
The victim is presently listed in critical but stable condition.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that the vehicle which struck and killed the victim was a 2021 Kia K5, authorities say.
Further investigation identified Huerta-Tochihuitl as the individual who operated the subject Kia K5 at the time of the crash, officials said.
Officials said that on June 20, 2024, Huerta-Tochihuitl surrendered himself to the Lakewood Township Police Headquarters.
Huerta-Tochihuitl was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending an appearance in Ocean County Superior Court, according to officials.
“I would like to thank the members of the community who came forward to assist law enforcement in this investigation,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.