Manchester Man Charged With Aggravated Assault, DUI In Crash

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

William Andujar, 49, of Whiting, was arrested Nov. 24 in the Nov. 2 crash in Berkeley Township where he rear-ended a car driven by Susan Ewing, 44, of South Toms River, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Andujar was driving west on Pinewald Keswick Road about 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 in 2010 Honda CRV when he hit the 2003 Hyundai Elantra driven by Ewing from behind, sending both cars off the road into the woods, Billhimer said.

Lab results of a blood draw taken that night showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .129 percent at the time his blood was drawn, Billhimer said.

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

Andujar was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center as well, and a search warrant was obtained for a draw of his blood. The prosecutor's office received the results on Nov. 23, Billhimer said, and they showed a significant quantity of methadone in Andujar’s system in addition to the alcohol.

He was charged with assault by auto initially, but the aggravated assault charge was filed Tuesday following further developments in the investigation, Billhimer said. Andujar also has been charged with 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, Billhimer said.

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 investigated.

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