By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on November 4, 2024, Genell Mcinaw, 50, of Seaside Park, was charged with Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Seaside Heights on September 23, 2024, resulting in the death of Robert Popovics, 75, of Seaside Park.
Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan, Jr. stated that on September 23, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers from the Seaside Heights Police Department responded to the area of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard for a report of a male lying in the roadway.
Responding Officers discovered Mr. Popovics lying unconscious in the roadway with apparent serious bodily injuries, Ocean County officials said. Mr. Popovics was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries.
According to Ocean County officials, an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Seaside Heights Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that a dark-colored sedan was traveling south on the Boulevard when it struck Mr. Popovics and fled the area.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was being operated by Mcinaw at the time of the crash. Mcinaw was taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad at her residence without incident, and initially charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to Another Person, Ocean County officials stated.
Seaside Heights Police said Mcinaw was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where a draw of her blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant.
She was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, Ocean County officials say.
According to Ocean County authorities, on November 1, Mr. Popovics succumbed to his injuries as a result of the September 23 crash, and he was pronounced deceased at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Laboratory results of Mcinaw’s blood draw, received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, revealed that Mcinaw’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at the time of the crash was .187, officials say. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater.
As a consequence of Mr. Popovics succumbing to his injuries from the September 23rd crash, as well as the results of Mcinaw’s blood draw, the charges against Mcinaw have been upgraded to Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death.
Ocean County Prosecutor Nolan said that on November 4, Mcinaw surrendered herself to Seaside Heights Police Headquarters in the presence of her attorney.
She was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing, Seaside Heights Police stated.