MAYS LANDING- A Pleasantville woman who was determined to be under the influence of marijuana and who was also speeding has been charged in connection to a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred in December 2018, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of refraining from driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Very simply, if you drive while impaired, it is more likely that someone will be injured or killed. The risk is too great to ignore,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said.
Officials say Ms. Kaitlyn Hayes, 24, was arrested Wednesday then charged with the following offenses:
First degree Aggravated Manslaughter
First degree Vehicular Homicide in a School Zone
Officials said the motor vehicle crash that involved two cars occurred on December 19, 2018 at approximately 11:38 P.M. on Pitney Road in the area of Connecticut Avenue in Absecon.
According to police, the impact occurred in a designated school zone within 1000 feet of the H. Ashton Marsh Elementary School.
Police say a vehicle, operated by Kaitlyn Hayes, 24, of Pleasantville was traveling southbound on Pitney Road when it crossed over into the northbound lane and struck another vehicle head-on, that was operated by Suzana Kocick, 36, of Galloway.
Kocick was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hayes was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
An investigation determined that Hayes’ 2017 Ford Expedition vehicle was traveling at a speed of 106 mph in the 2 seconds prior to the crash, and 104 mph at impact.
Toxicology tests revealed Hayes’ blood was positive for marijuana.
Officials say this crash is a cooperative investigation by the Absecon Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Investigations Unit. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Absecon Police at (609) 641-0667 or the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 909-7692.