Douglas Thompson (Photo: Ocean Countyt Jail)
A Jackson man has been charged with vehicular homicide stemming from an Oct. 15 crash in Toms River that killed a township resident. Officials say the suspect, Douglas Thompson, 55, was intoxicated while behind the wheel in the rear-end crash that claimed the life of Thomas Marciano, 65, of Toms River.
According to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offie, Marciano, who was traveling northbound on Route 9 near the intersection of Stevens Road, 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 to treat injuries at the scene, and Marciano was transported to Community Medical Center – and later that evening to Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, due to the seriousness of his injuries. On Oct. 28, 2019, Marciano succumbed to his injuries. Thompson was originally charged with DWI, reckless driving, careless driving, and operating a vehicle while suspended or revoked.
On Friday, 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. He is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
“Prosecutor [Bradley] Billhimer and Chief [Mitch] 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,” the statement said.
