Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced Marcos A. Ortega, 34, of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, was sentenced by Judge Rochelle Gizinski J.S.C. to 7 years in New Jersey State Prison and three additional years supervised parole on the charge of Second Degree Vehicular Homicide in the death of Kenneth Moeller, 61, of Lanoka Harbor.
The sentencing stems from his guilty plea to an incident that occurred on Monday, November 10, 2014, when at approximately 6:39 pm, Ocean Township Police received information that an erratic driver was traveling northbound on Route 9. While attempting to locate the erratic driver, Patrolman Kyle Flatt observed a vehicle travelling north on Main Street, at approximately 6:44 pm, with what appeared to be a person lying on the hood of the vehicle. Patrolman Flatt immediately initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of Dolphin Way. Upon approaching the vehicle, Patrolman Flatt observed a person halfway through the vehicle’s windshield.
The Waretown Volunteer Fire Department and First-Aid responded and assisted police personnel with extrication. The victim was identified as Kenneth C. Moeller, 61, of Lanoka Harbor, NJ. As a result of the crash Moeller sustained serious injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition. On November 17, 2014, Moeller was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center as a result of the injuries he sustained in the accident.
The preliminary investigation by the Ocean Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that prior to the accident the driver was travelling northbound on Route 9 just north of South Main Street, when he allegedly crossed into the northbound shoulder where he struck the male victim. Ortega continued operating the vehicle for approximately 1.5 miles before being located and stopped by Patrolman Flatt.
Ocean Township Police conducted field sobriety tests on Ortega at the scene which determined that Ortega was impaired. A telephonic search warrant was obtained and samples of Ortega’s blood were collected for analysis. The subsequent investigation was conducted by the Ocean Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, Detective Bureau, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Sheehan.
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