Man Charged With Aggravated Assault In Berkeley Crash: Prosecutor

BERKELEY, NJ — A Manchester man has been charged with aggravated assault and driving while intoxicated in connection with a Berkeley Township crash that injured a South Toms River woman, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.

William Andujar, 49, was initially charged for assault by auto for the Nov. 2 crash in Berkeley Township. The additional charge of aggravated assault came Dec. 8 after further investigation.

Berkeley Township Police responded to a crash involving two cars on Pinewald Keswick Road at 7 p.m.

Andujar was driving westbound in a 2010 Honda CRV when he rear-ended a 2003 Hyundai Elantra driven by Susan Ewing, 44, sending both vehicles off the road into the woods, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billheimer said.

Ewing sustained serious injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune for treatment. She is still recovering in a rehabilitation facility, Prosecutor Billhimer said.

Andujar was also taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center following the crash and a search warrant was obtained for a draw of his blood.

Laboratory results found Andujar’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .129 percent and contained a significant quantity of Methadone, according to the OCPO. In New Jersey, a BAC of .08 or greater surpasses the legal limit.

Following the investigation, Andujar was charged with aggravated assault. Andujar was also charged with assault by auto, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, tailgating, failure to maintain lane, failure to produce a driver's license and failure to produce a valid registration.

Andujar remains in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The prosecutor's office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Berkeley Township Police, South Toms River Police, the prosecutor's Victim Witness Advocacy Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit assisted in the investigation.

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