TOMS RIVER, NJ – Little Egg Harbor Township resident John Madden, with no known relationship to the former NFL coach and commentator has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that resulted in serious bodily injury.
According to an earlier police report, “On April 8, 2020, Officers from the Long Beach Township Police Department were summoned to the area of Long Beach Boulevard for a report of a hit-and-run involving serious injuries to a bicyclist.”
The subsequent investigation by the Long Beach Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that Daniel Bogacz, 63, of Beach Haven, was riding his bicycle northbound on Long Beach Boulevard when he was struck by a 2020 Jeep Liberty, also traveling northbound.
“The Jeep Liberty did not stop to render aid, but instead made a U-turn and accelerated past the injured victim,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Bilhimer said today. “Mr. Boaz was air-lifted to Atlantic City Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries and later released.”
A police investigation revealed that Madden was, in fact, the driver of the Jeep Liberty.
He was arrested at his home in Little Egg Harbor on April 8, 2020 without incident.
According to Billhimer, laboratory results of Madden’s blood draw – received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in the course of the investigation – revealed his Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to be .245 percent.
“In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where his/her BAC is .08 or greater,” BIllhimer said.
Madden had another run-in with the law a few days prior to the hit and run crash, Billhimer noted.
“On April 4, 2020, Officers from the Little Egg Harbor Police Department were summoned to a convenience store on Mathis town Road for a report of a shoplifter. Responding Officers determined that the manager of the store witnessed Madden shoplifting and confronted him,” Billhimer said. “The manager of the store asked an off-duty New Jersey State Park Police Officer – who happened to be at the convenience store and was in uniform at the time – for assistance. As the off-duty officer attempted to detain Madden, he pushed the officer in an attempt to get away.”