Driver Accused Of Leaving Fatal Ocean County Crash Sought

JACKSON, NJ — A Jackson Township man has been charged in the Christmas Eve crash that killed a Howell Township woman, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Roberto Alcazar-Sanchez, 27, has been charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license while being involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Authorities are seeking the public's help in finding Alcazar-Sanchez, Billhimer said. The prosecutor's office released additional photos of him that are at the bottom of this article.

In addition, his girlfriend, Reyna Mendez, 27, of Jackson, has been charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, after detectives determined she gave false information in connection with the investigation. Mendez was released pending a future court date.

Investigators have determined Alcazar-Sanchez was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado that was involved in the crash with a 2010 Mercedes Benz driven by Norman Shtab, 83, of Howell. Shtab was turning from the Interstate 195 exit ramp at Exit 21 left onto Cedar Swamp Road about 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve when the crash happened, authorities said.

Shtab's wife, Phyllis, 81, also was in the car and suffered serious injuries. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she died Dec. 26.

Norman Shtab and Jose Misael Pementel-Mendoza, 30, of Wrightstown, who was a passenger in the Silverado, also were injured in the crash but both were treated and released from the hospital, Billhimer said.

Billhimer said a warrant was issued for Alcazar-Sanchez and his name has been added to the National Crime Information Center database. Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts or information related to the investigation is urged to contact Detective Anthony Carrington of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, or Officer Tristan Bennett of the Jackson Township Police Department at 732-928-1111.

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