Man Gets 5-Year Prison Term In Fatal 2019 DWI Crash

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Jackson Township man has been sentenced to five years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a Toms River man, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Douglas Thompson, 56, of Jackson, was sentenced to five years in prison by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan in the 2019 crash that killed Thomas Marciano, 65, of Toms River, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Thompson, who pleaded guilty in the case on Nov. 19, 2020, had a .17 blood alcohol concentration on the date of the crash, more than twice the legal limit of .08 under New Jersey law regarding alcohol consumption.

Ryan also suspended Thompson’s driver’s license for life in connection with his sentence, the prosecutor said.

Marciano was driving on Route 9 on Oct. 16 waiting to turn left onto Stevens Road when he was hit from behind, Billhimer said. Marciano was taken to Community Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries.

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