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Bryce Lomas from the township's Parlin section was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 17 to 10 years in state prison, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash resulting in death on Monday, Apr. 22.
Old Bridge police responded to a hit-and-run crash report at the Wawa convenience store on Route 34 at around 7:41 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Officers found Andrew Padulano of Old Bridge with serious injuries.
Padulano was hospitalized in critical condition for more than 50 days. The 61-year-old died on Tuesday, Jan. 23, according to his obituary from LaBella Funeral Home.
The father of three was a Brooklyn, New York, native who also lived in Las Vegas with his family before moving to Old Bridge.
"He loved his children and grandchildren more [than] anything in this world, they will keep the memories they have of him close to their hearts," his obituary read. "Andrew had a deep love for Gil Hodges baseball and the [New York] Yankees. He loved to sing and let everyone know what a great voice he had.
"He enjoyed cooking and eating with his family. He will be greatly missed by his loved ones."
Investigators said during an argument, Lomas struck and ran over Padulano with a Ford F-150. Lomas sped out of the Wawa parking lot and nearly hit another vehicle before driving onto Dock Road.
Lomas was eventually arrested and his charges were upgraded after Padulano's death. The teen must serve at least 8 1/2 years in prison before he's eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.
The sentence also requires Lomas to be under parole supervision for three years after his release.
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