Police: Intoxicated Driver Charged in Lakeside Drive South Accident

Lacey police have charged the Bayville woman who was recently found unresponsive at the scene of a Lakeside Drive South motor vehicle accident.

Tara Smith, 23, of Bayville was located lying unresponsive along the shore of Lake Barnegat on April 5 at 3:16 a.m.

Lacey police responded to the wooded area adjacent to the second lake, near the intersection of Lakeside Drive South and Claire Road, for a report of a motor vehicle crash, police said.

A Mitsubishi Galant sedan was lying on its passenger side with the engine compartment engulfed in flames, police said.

Smith was within feet of the burning vehicle, police said.

She was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, police said. She has since been discharged.

Due to initial statements made by Smith, police searched the area, including Lake Barnegat, for additional victims. Police found that Smith had been alone, Chief David Paprota said.

Preliminary investigation revealed intoxication as a contributing factor to the crash, police said on April 6.

Smith was charged with DUI, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

Members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminalistics Investigations Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office responded to assist at the scene. The Forked River Fire Department, Lacey EMS, Lacey Dive Team and MONOC Paramedics also responded.