TOMS RIVER-Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Chief of Police Mitch Little announced today the arrest of Douglas Thompson, age 55, of Jackson, for Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, Death by Auto and Operating a Vehicle Causing a Death While Suspended or Revoked.
On Tuesday October 15, 2019, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Toms River Police were dispatched to the intersection of Route 9 and Stevens Road for the report of a motor vehicle collision. Thomas Marciano, age 65, of Toms River, who was traveling northbound on Route 9 near the intersection of Stevens Rd., was stopped behind a vehicle awaiting a left turn into the Wawa parking lot when his vehicle was rear-ended by Thompson. Toms River EMS and Silverton EMS responded for injuries at the scene. Mr. Marciano was transported to Community Medical Center and later that evening to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune; due to the seriousness of his injuries. On October 28, 2019, Thomas Marciano succumbed to his injuries. Thompson was originally charged with Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, and Operating a Vehicle While Suspended/Revoked.
On Friday November 8, 2019, Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Mark Nater, along with members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Squad arrested Thompson at his residence in Jackson in connection with the additional charges. Thompson is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Little would like to thank the Toms River Police Department Traffic Safety Division, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Squad and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River EMS, Silverton EMS for their assistance at the scene and for their collective assistance in this investigation.