Indictment: Toms River woman impaired by marijuana during fatal crash
TOMS RIVER - A Toms River woman who authorities allege was under the influence of marijuana when her car was involved in a multi-vehicle crash that killed two was indicted on vehicular homicide and related charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Thursday.
Danielle Bowker, 30, was indicted by an Ocean County grand jury on two counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide, and two counts of assault by auto in connection with a motor vehicle crash that happened in Manchester Township, Billhimer said.
On March 29, 2022, around 7:15 a.m., Manchester Township police were called to the area of Whitesville Road and Route 571 for a report of a crash with a fatality, the announcement said. The officers found that four vehicles were involved.
Bowker - driving a 2018 Honda Civic - was traveling westbound on Route 571 when she failed to stay in her lane while making a right-hand curve, said Billhimer. Her vehicle hit a New Jersey Department of Transportation Ford-550 pickup truck - driven by Eduardo Rivera, 30, of Hamilton Township with passenger Daniel Septor, 26, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township- which was traveling eastbound on Route 571.
As a result, the pickup truck lost control and struck a 2012 Toyota Camry operated by Michael Sadis, 48, of Toms River, pushing the car off the road and into an embankment, according to the statement. The truck continued in the same direction and hit a 2015 Toyota Corolla driven by Paul Lamberti, 58, also of Toms River.
Sadis was pronounced dead at the scene and Lamberti was airlifted to the hospital where he later died of his injuries, Billhimer said. Rivera and Septor were treated for minor injuries.
Bowker sustained minor injuries from the incident and was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, said Billhimer. While being treated, a blood draw was taken from Bowker pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. The results showed that she had an active THC level of 7 nanograms (ng) with a metabolite THC level of 61 ng, indicating Bowker was a recent, active user of marijuana at the time of the crash.
After reviewing the lab results, the state's psychopharmacologist rendered an opinion that at the time of the crash, "Bowker’s faculties were impaired due to the effects of marijuana intoxication, and that she could not safely operate a motor vehicle," Billhimer said.
Karl Mohel, Bowker's attorney, said they have a multi-tiered defense, including eyewitness testimony that disputes the prosecution's conclusions.
"It's a stretch on their part," Mohel said.
In the testimony, the witness gave a version of the events that were entirely different than what the prosecution has said, according to Mohel. The defense also believes police allowed one of the other drivers to leave the scene with their union representative.
Additionally, Mohel said that because there is no state statute on marijuana use while driving - unlike with alcohol - it's left up to opinion. In this case, it's that of the state's psychopharmacologist, who is trying to say that Bowkers had smoked marijuana prior to 7:15 the morning of the incident, Mohel said.
"Which is not the facts," he said. "Marijuana was not smoked that day, I can tell you that."
Arrangements were made for Bowker to surrender herself to Manchester Township Police Headquarters in the presence of her attorney on June 21, 2022, according to the announcement. She was taken to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a result of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River NJ marijuana-impaired driver indicted in fatal crash
