Hit-and-Run Driver Located

A Lanoka Harbor man fled the scene of a motor vehicle accident after colliding with a car at the intersection of Route 9 and First Street.

Police responded to the hit and run accident at approximately 8:05 p.m. March 2 and found that a red Ford Mustang was turning onto Route 9, in the path of a 1989 Plymouth Reliant, operated by a 59-year-old Waretown resident.

The two vehicles collided and the Mustang fled the accident, police said.

The Mustang was located parked and occupied by its driver a few blocks away. An off-duty police officer observed the collision and followed the Mustang until it eventually stopped.

Thomas Carapello, 51, of Lanoka Harbor was arrested and charged with DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.

The Mustang was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. 

Capt. David Paprota provided the following information: 

March 3
Tyler Kennedy, 34, of Pine Beach was arrested and charged with DUI after Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas observed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane of travel at approximately 2 a.m. March 3.

Kennedy was traveling eastbound on Sunrise Boulevard when Tsarnas pulled him over.

Kennedy was also charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

The vehicle’s owner and passenger inside the car, Kyle Firuta, 29, of Toms River was also charged for allowing an impaired driver to operate his motor vehicle while he was present in the vehicle.

The car was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. 

March 2
Ashley Ostin, 25, of Toms River was arrested at approximately 12:36 a.m. March 2 after Tsarnas observed a vehicle pass his location on Route 9 without its headlights on.

Tsarnas followed the vehicle and observed it travel over the center yellow lines. A motor vehicle stop was conduced and Ostin was charged with DUI, reckless driving, headlights required and failure to maintain lane.

Ostin’s vehicle was impounded. 

March 1
Tsarnas stopped a Jeep Cherokee on Lacey Road near Letts Avenue, on suspicion of drunk driving at approximately 12:36 a.m. March 1.

The driver, John Ridgeway, 21, of Forked River was arrested and charged with DUI, failure to maintain Lane, reckless driving, failure to inspect vehicle and an unsafe vehicle.

During the motor vehicle stop, Tsarnas smelled both raw and burnt marijuana from inside the car.

Once receiving a search warrant, Tsarnas and Detective Sgt. Christopher Cornelius found marijuana.

Ridgeway was charged with possession of marijuana and received additional traffic summonses for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.