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Ashley Beams' drunken-driving crash resulted in the death of James Cruz of the Parlin section of Old Bridge Township, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Beams pleaded guilty to a vehicular homicide charge on July 24. Additionally, before her sentencing on Friday, Sept. 15, Beams pleaded guilty to the motor vehicle offense of Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol, Billhimer said.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., Feb. 8, 2022, Toms River police responded to Bay Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle crash.
An investigation found that Beams failed to maintain her lane of travel and entered the shoulder, striking Cruz, who was retrieving a package from the trunk of his vehicle, Billhimer said.
Cruz was pinned between the two vehicles and carried a significant distance eastbound on Bay Avenue, the prosecutor said. Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene.
Beams was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of her injuries. Blood samples taken from Beams at the hospital revealed that her Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at the time of the collision was substantially higher than.08, Billhimer previously said.
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.
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