SHARE

Man Left Scene Of South Jersey Crash That Seriously Injured Pedestrian, Prosecutors Say

A Jackson Township man was accused of seriously injuring a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash in Lakewood, authorities said.

Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson Township, NJ, was accused of leaving the scene of a pedestrian crash at the intersection of Route 9 and First Street in Lakewood, NJ.

Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson Township, NJ, was accused of leaving the scene of a pedestrian crash at the intersection of Route 9 and First Street in Lakewood, NJ.

Photo Credit: Chris Spiker

Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, was charged on Thursday, June 20 with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident which resulted in serious bodily injury to another person, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. The charge was related to a crash on Route 9 on Sunday, June 16.

Lakewood police responded to the crash at the intersection of Route 9 and First Street at around 12:30 a.m. Officers learned a white four-door sedan was heading north on Route 9 when it hit a man who was trying to cross the road in a crosswalk.

The man was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with serious injuries. Prosecutors said he was listed in "critical but stable condition" at the Neptune hospital as of press time.

Investigators learned a 2021 Kia K5 struck the man, left the scene, and continued north on Route 9. Huerta-Tochihuitl was then identified as the car's driver.

Huerta-Tochihuitl turned himself in to the Lakewood Township Poice Department on Thursday, June 20.

"I would like to thank the members of the community who came forward to assist law enforcement in this investigation," Billhimer said in a statement.

Huerta-Tochihuitl was held in the Ocean County Jail to await a court appearance.

to follow Daily Voice Barnegat and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE