Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today that Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson Township, has been charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Which Resulted in Serious Bodily Injury to Another Person. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in the early hours of June 16, 2024, in Lakewood Township.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 16, Lakewood Township Police responded to a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Route 9 and First Street. Officers discovered that a white four-door sedan traveling northbound had struck a male pedestrian who was crossing Route 9 in a marked crosswalk. The vehicle continued northbound without stopping, leaving the victim with serious injuries. The pedestrian was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he remains in critical but stable condition.
An extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, High Tech Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit identified the suspect vehicle as a 2021 Kia K5. Further investigation determined that Huerta-Tochihuitl was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
On June 20, 2024, Huerta-Tochihuitl surrendered to Lakewood Township Police Headquarters and was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently held pending an appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.