Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 3, 2024, Nicholas Obrzut, 21, of Monroe Township, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault and three counts of Assault by Auto, in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Jackson Township on January 27, 2024.
On January 27, 2024, at approximately 2:15 a.m., Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to the area of North County Line Road and Jackson Mills Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash.
An investigation by responding Officers revealed that a 2020 BMW – being operated by Obrzut and containing front seat passenger Michael Russo, 21, of Monroe Township, and rear seat passengers Anthony Zito, 22, also of Monroe Township, and Ryan Ludwig, 23, of Manalapan Township – was traveling westbound on North County Line Road when Obrzut failed to negotiate a right hand curve in the road and struck the curbed median. As a result, Obrzut lost directional control of the vehicle and the vehicle began to roll. The vehicle continued to roll through the intersection of North County Line Road and Jackson Mills Road until it struck trees on the side of the roadway, finally coming to a rest. As a result of the crash, Mr. Russo was transported to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township for treatment of minor injuries. Mr. Zito and Mr. Ludwig were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune for treatment of their injuries and originally admitted to the hospital. They were both subsequently released and are currently recovering at home.
Obrzut sustained minor injuries from the crash and was also taken to JSUMC for treatment. While at JSUMC, a blood draw was taken from Obrzut pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. Laboratory results of Obrzut’s blood draw, received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, revealed that Obrzut had an Active THC (marijuana) level of 14 nanograms (ng) with a Metabolite THC level of 100ng – indicating that Obrzut was a recent and active user of marijuana at the time of the crash. Additionally, it is reasonably certain that Obrzut’s faculties were impaired due to the effects of marijuana intoxication, and that he could not have safely operated a motor vehicle.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad revealed that the vehicle operated by Obrzut was traveling in excess of 100 miles-per-hour just prior to the crash. The posted speed limit on the roadway is 50 miles-per-hour. The investigation further revealed that due to fog, there was low visibility at the time of the crash.
As a consequence, on April 3, 2024, Obrzut was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault and three counts of Assault by Auto. On that date, Obruzut was taken into custody at his residence without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.