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New Jersey State Police have charged Regis A. Vitale Jr., 50, of Waterford Works, for vehicular homicide as the result of a fatal head-on crash involving Daryl ‘Skip’ Akers Jr., 62, of Bridgeton, the State Police employee.
On March 11, troopers from Troop “C” Red Lion Station responded to the report of a serious motor vehicle crash on Route 206 in Southampton Township, Burlington County. Upon their arrival, they began life-saving measures to the drivers of both vehicles involved in the crash. Vitale was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries and Akers was pronounced dead at the crash scene, State Police said.
As a result of the investigation led by the Troop ‘C’ Criminal Investigation Office and the Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, in conjunction with members of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, it was determined that Vitale was driving a GMC Silverado southbound on Route 206 when, in the area of milepost 18.3, the GMC crossed the centerline into the northbound lanes and struck Akers, who was driving a Jeep Patriot on his way to work, State Police said.
On March 12, detectives made a warranted search on Vitale’s vehicle and seized methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, THC, and drug paraphernalia, police said.
As a result of a toxicology report on blood obtained from Vitale on the morning of the crash, along with information obtained during the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Vitale was under influence of methamphetamine and marijuana while he was operating the motor vehicle, police said.
On Wednesday, May 25, Vitale was charged with vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, possession of controlled dangerous substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. Due to his injuries sustained from the crash, he was placed on house arrest, they said.
This case is being prosecuted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
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