Woman's Blood-Alcohol 4 Times Legal Limit In Fatal Crash: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River woman has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in a fatal crash after tests revealed her blood-alcohol level was four times the legal limit at the time of the crash, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Ashley Beams, 31, was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and strict liability vehicular homicide in the Feb. 8 crash that killed James Cruz, 62, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge Township, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Beams also has been charged with the motor vehicle offenses of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, careless driving, and failure to wear a seat belt, Billhimer said.

The crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. Feb. 8 on Bay Avenue in Toms River, authorities said.

Cruz was getting a package out of the trunk of his car when Beams, who was driving east on Bay Avenue, drifted into the shoulder just past Twin Oaks Drive and hit Cruz, pinning him between his vehicle and hers, Billhimer said.

Cruz remained pinned between the two vehicles as they continued 96 feet down the street before coming to a stop, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Beams was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of the injuries she sustained in the crash, Billhimer said.

The initial draw of her blood at the hospital revealed Beams had a blood-alcohol concentration of .32 percent, he said. In New Jersey, the operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit when the blood-alcohol concentration is .08 percent or higher.

Beams is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending a detention hearing, Billhimer said.

Friends of Cruz set up a GoFundMe campaign to help his family with a funeral service.

"Only 6 months ago Jimmy lost his mother, who lived with him because he did not want her to be in a senior home," Joe Irizarry wrote. "He took great care of her, looking out for her every need. He was generous with his time and was always smiling. He brought joy to all that knew him."

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit investigated.

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