Latest news with #Billhimer
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Toms River man charged in horrific, airborne crash in Lakewood that killed passenger
LAKEWOOD - A 52-year-old woman is dead, and a 56-year-old Toms River man is charged in connection with her death, after the car they were in early Tuesday went flying through the air twice before landing upside down in a drainage ditch adjacent to Cedar Bridge Avenue, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Martine Taylor Jr., 56, the driver of the ill-fated 2015 Nissan Altima, was charged with causing a death while driving with a suspended driver's license, Billhimer said. Police discovered the horrific crash when they responded to a report about 1:35 a.m. from a tractor-trailer driver who reported that the rig struck overhead utility wires while traveling east on Cedar Bridge Avenue, near the Garden State Parkway overpass, according to a news release issued by the prosecutor. Officers located the utility disruption, and Jersey Central Power & Light Co. was contacted to respond and render the area safe. While investigating the incident, officers discovered the heavily damaged Nissan Altima upside down in a drainage ditch adjacent to the eastbound lane of Cedar Bridge Avenue, the news release said. Taylor and the woman were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated. The woman, who Billhimer did not identify, was unresponsive, and attempts to save her life were unsuccessful, the news release said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Taylor was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The investigation revealed the horrific crash had impacted the utility lines that the tractor trailer driver reported striking. The probe revealed the Altima had been traveling west on Cedar Bridge Avenue when it crossed the double yellow centerline and entered the eastbound lanes before leaving the road, going airborne, clearing the guardrail and traveling about 189 feet through the air, the news release said. The vehicle quickly made contact with the ground before going airborne again, this time striking a tree before landing on its roof in the drainage ditch, the release said. Investigators learned Taylor's driving privileges were suspended at the time of the crash, the news release said. In furtherance of the investigation, blood was drawn from Taylor, in accordance with a court-authorized warrant. Taylor was served with a warrant charging him with the criminal offense while at the hospital. He also was issued multiple motor-vehicle summonses. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain to await a detention hearing, the news release said. The prosecutor's Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood police and the Ocean County Sheriff's Crime Scene Investigation Unit conducted the investigation. Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Horrific Lakewood crash kills woman; Toms River motorist faces charges
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor
A second teenager has been arrested for arson in connection with a massive New Jersey wildfire that destroyed a commercial building, shut down a major highway and forced thousands of people to flee, prosecutors said. The second suspect -- an unidentified 17-year-old boy -- was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with arson and aggravated arson for allegedly helping set wooden pallets on fire and leaving the area when the fire wasn't fully extinguished, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. The 17-year-old was also charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly giving "misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started," Billhimer said in a statement. MORE: Man charged with attempted murder in hit-and-run outside church preschool The first suspect, 19-year-old Joseph Kling, was arrested on April 23 in connection with the Jones Road Wildfire, which ignited in Ocean Township on April 22, prosecutors said. The fire was caused by "an improperly extinguished bonfire," Billhimer said. Kling allegedly set wooden pallets on fire and then left when the fire wasn't fully put out, Billhimer said. As of Monday, the Jones Road Wildfire had burned about 15,300 acres, Billhimer said. The blaze was 75% contained as of Thursday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. On April 23, Kling was charged with arson and aggravated arson. On Thursday, he was charged with hindering apprehension for also allegedly giving false information to law enforcement, prosecutors said. Kling is in custody at the Ocean County Jail and is due at a detention hearing on Friday. The 17-year-old is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center, prosecutors said. ABC News' Alexandra Faul contributed to this report. 2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor originally appeared on
02-05-2025
2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor
A second teenager has been arrested for arson in connection with a massive New Jersey wildfire that destroyed a commercial building, shut down a major highway and forced thousands of people to flee, prosecutors said. The second suspect -- an unidentified 17-year-old boy -- was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with arson and aggravated arson for allegedly helping set wooden pallets on fire and leaving the area when the fire wasn't fully extinguished, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. The 17-year-old was also charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly giving "misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started," Billhimer said in a statement. The first suspect, 19-year-old Joseph Kling, was arrested on April 23 in connection with the Jones Road Wildfire, which ignited in Ocean Township on April 22, prosecutors said. The fire was caused by "an improperly extinguished bonfire," Billhimer said. Kling allegedly set wooden pallets on fire and then left when the fire wasn't fully put out, Billhimer said. As of Monday, the Jones Road Wildfire had burned about 15,300 acres, Billhimer said. The blaze was 75% contained as of Thursday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. On April 23, Kling was charged with arson and aggravated arson. On Thursday, he was charged with hindering apprehension for also allegedly giving false information to law enforcement, prosecutors said. Kling is in custody at the Ocean County Jail and is due at a detention hearing on Friday. The 17-year-old is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center, prosecutors said.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor
A second teenager has been arrested for arson in connection with a massive New Jersey wildfire that destroyed a commercial building, shut down a major highway and forced thousands of people to flee, prosecutors said. The second suspect -- an unidentified 17-year-old boy -- was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with arson and aggravated arson for allegedly helping set wooden pallets on fire and leaving the area when the fire wasn't fully extinguished, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. The 17-year-old was also charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly giving "misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started," Billhimer said in a statement. MORE: Man charged with attempted murder in hit-and-run outside church preschool The first suspect, 19-year-old Joseph Kling, was arrested on April 23 in connection with the Jones Road Wildfire, which ignited in Ocean Township on April 22, prosecutors said. The fire was caused by "an improperly extinguished bonfire," Billhimer said. Kling allegedly set wooden pallets on fire and then left when the fire wasn't fully put out, Billhimer said. As of Monday, the Jones Road Wildfire had burned about 15,300 acres, Billhimer said. The blaze was 75% contained as of Thursday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. On April 23, Kling was charged with arson and aggravated arson. On Thursday, he was charged with hindering apprehension for also allegedly giving false information to law enforcement, prosecutors said. Kling is in custody at the Ocean County Jail and is due at a detention hearing on Friday. The 17-year-old is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center, prosecutors said. ABC News' Alexandra Faul contributed to this report. 2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor originally appeared on
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
New Jersey teen accused of sparking massive wildfire
Police in New Jersey have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with sparking a massive wildfire that led to evacuations and power outages. Joseph Kling is accused of starting the Jones Road Wildfire, which has grown to more than 15,000 acres and blanketed parts of the region in smoke. He was arrested on Wednesday and is currently being held in detention. Officials have not revealed what led to his arrest. On Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said "technical advancements" helped, although he did not provide further details. Officials said the wildfire began after Mr Kling set wooden pallets on fire in a densely forested area, and then left the area while they were still burning. Speaking to reporters, Mr Billhimer said he was "very confident" that Mr Kling intentionally set out to spark a wildfire. He added that witness statements have corroborated the allegation. Mr Kling, who lives in New Jersey, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Mr Billhimer told reporters that the arrest should send a "message" to the community. "Starting a fire out in the woods when the conditions are dry in the forest could lead to widespread damage, loss of life, loss of property and potentially criminal charges," Mr Billhimer said. "It's a very dangerous thing, and we were taught as kids not to play with fire, but starting a fire in a forest is such a dangerous thing." The Jones Road Fire was first spotted by crews on Tuesday, and grew to 15,200 acres Thursday during abnormally dry conditions. Officials said it is poised to possibly become the state's largest wildfire in 20 years. It remains only 50% contained, officials said, adding that rain forecast for Saturday should help extinguish the blaze. It is burning through a relatively unpopulated part of the state in the Forked River Mountains area in Ocean County. On Wednesday, officials lifted an evacuation order affecting around 5,000 residents. No injuries or deaths have been reported. No homes were damaged, although one commercial building and several vehicles were destroyed. The blaze also sparked air quality alerts across New Jersey, America's most densely populated state, as well as in New York City and Long Island.
