A Toms River man has plead guilty to knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal car accident that occurred in Lakewood on October 4, 2019.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that Alexander Politan, 31, pled guilty to Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1, as well as Driving with a Suspended License in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, J.S.C.

At the time of his sentencing on April 17, 2020, the State will recommend a sentence of seven years in New Jersey State Prison.

The accident took place on Friday October 4 around 9:20 pm.

Lakewood Police were sent to Oak Street, south of Albert Avenue for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.

Their investigation revealed that Jesus Lopez-Grande, 15, of Lakewood, and his father, Jesus Lopez-Ramirez, 37, also of Lakewood, were walking near the shoulder portion of Oak Street when they were struck by a vehicle.

Jesus Lopez-Ramirez sustained an injury to his elbow.

Jesus Lopez-Grande was found lying face down in the driveway of a home on Oak Street.

Jesus Lopez-Grande suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

There was vehicle debris left at the scene.

Detectives determined from the debris that vehicle parts located at the crash scene belonged to a black 2014 Jeep Cherokee.

Lakewood Police, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office launched an extensive search to locate the Jeep Cherokee they found two days later in the driveway of a residence on New Hampshire Avenue in Toms River.

The residence was unoccupied.

The black Jeep Cherokee had clear damage to the passenger side.

A search warrant was obtained for the Jeep Cherokee.

An investigation uncovered that Politan was operating the vehicle when it struck Jesus Lopez-Grande and Jesus Lopez-Grande.

Politan was located and apprehended on October 8, 2019.

He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since the date of his arrest.

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