Lakewood, NJ – Angel Garcia-Rodriguez, 26, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in a Death. This conviction stemmed from a crash in Lakewood Township on July 22, 2023, where Garcia-Rodriguez fled after his Honda Civic hit a utility pole, resulting in a fatality.
On that fateful morning, Lakewood Township Police responded to a tragic motor vehicle crash on James Street at around 2:25 a.m. where they found a critically injured male passenger in the Honda Civic. Despite efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
An investigation revealed that Garcia-Rodriguez, the driver of the Honda Civic, fled the scene after losing control and hitting the utility pole. Authorities tracked him down at a residence in Lakewood, leading to his arrest and subsequent detention at Ocean County Jail since the incident.
Prosecutor Billhimer commended the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement units involved in the investigation, ultimately resulting in Garcia-Rodriguez’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing to state prison.