LAKEWOOD -- Ocean County authorities arrested a Jackson man today on charges he left the scene of a crash in Lakewood that killed an off-duty police officer. Lamont Gadson, 37, was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving while suspended, but more charges may be coming as police continue to investigate the May 8 crash that...
LAKEWOOD -- Ocean County authorities arrested a Jackson man today on charges he left the scene of a crash in Lakewood that killed an off-duty police officer.
Lamont Gadson, 37, was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving while suspended, but more charges may be coming as police continue to investigate the May 8 crash that killed Harvey Cedars Police Officer Angelo Vasile, said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford and Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson.
Vasile, 36, of Toms River, was off duty and driving his motorcycle on Route 9 near Central Avenue around 3 a.m. when his bike was hit from behind by a car that left the scene.
After the crash, police found an abandoned 2000 Mitsubishi Galant and traced it to Gadson, the owner, Ford said. She said Gadson initially was arrested on May 8 on outstanding municipal warrants. He was re-arrested this afternoon at his Arizona Avenue home in connection with the fatal accident, she said.
"All fatal accidents are tragedies, but to the law enforcement community, this loss strikes close to home," Ford said.
Vasile was rushed to Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, where he died from severe and extensive injuries, the prosecutor said.
A member of the Harvey Cedars Police Department for eight years, Vasile was president of PBA Local 135 and earned the department’s meritorious service award in 2005.
"The exact cause of the accident, the fault for the collision and whether or not the facts will support the imposition of other criminal charges is still the subject of this investigation," Ford said. "However, we are confident probable cause exists for the charges filed today against Mr. Gadson."
Gadson is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Anyone with information about the accident is encouraged to call Lakewood Police Officer Robert Reddington at 732-363-0200 or prosecutor’s Detective John Hill at 732-929-2027.
Previous coverage:
• Harvey Cedars police officer killed in hit-and-run on Route 9 in Lakewood
A map of Lakewood, Ocean County, N.J., where a Jackson man allegedly crashed into an off-duty police officer who was on a motorcycle, killing him, then later fled the scene.