As a follow-up to a recent article discussing the ongoing police investigation of a fatal Toms River car accident, authorities have reportedly identified the driver of the vehicle and have charged him with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death.
In a recent post, we reported the accident, involving a car and a pedestrian, which resulted in the death of a young man from Colts Neck, New Jersey. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced the death of 27-year-old Brookdale Community College student Jeffrey Michel, who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Toms River.
Investigators at the scene recovered blue pieces of debris, which they later identified as belonging to the two-door model of a Jeep Wrangler produced in 2013, 2014, and 2015. After a coordinated investigation conducted by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and Toms River Police Departments, authorities identified 51-year-old Mark Rothlein as the driver of the vehicle.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little announced that the arrest occurred on March 18, 2015, and the vehicle involved was a Blue 2013 two-door Jeep Wrangler registered to Rothlein’s wife.
Rothlein is charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death, a second-degree criminal offense governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1. He is currently being held on $100,000 bail and may be sentenced to serve between 5 and 10 years in New Jersey State Prison upon conviction. Additionally, it remains to be seen whether or not the victim’s family will file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation on his behalf. This may expose Rothlein to criminal and civil charges in connection with this case.
For additional information pertaining to this case, access the following post on the Monmouth County Police, Fire & EMS Facebook Page: OCPO: Arrest Made in Fatal Toms River Hit & Run