A 27-YEAR-OLD MANAHAWKIN MAN HAS BEEN INDICTED IN CONNECTION WITH JANUARY 2021 CAR CRASH
" Michael Pillarella Indicted On Aggravated Manslaughter In Connection To January 2021 Car Crash In Little Egg Harbor."
June 25, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ.- On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Thursday, June 24, 2021, Michael Pillarella, 27, of Manahawkin, New Jersey, was Indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on charge of Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Little Egg Harbor Township during the evening hours of January 30, 2021, which resulted in the death of a female juvenile victim.
Mr. Pillarella was also Indicted on the charges of Vehicular Homicide; Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide; Aggravated Assault; and Assault by Auto.
On January 30, 2021, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Officers from The Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded to the area of Radio Road and Baltusrol Court on a report of a two-vehicle crash with serious injuries. An investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and The Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department revealed that a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, operated by Mr. Pillarella, was travelling northbound on Radio Road when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. Pillarellas vehicle over the centerline, and struck an oncoming 2006 Toyota XB travelling southbound on Radio Road. The Toyota XB was operated by a juvenile, and there was also a juvenile passenger in the vehicle. As a result of the crash, both juveniles sustained serious injuries and were subsequently airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.
Mr. Pillarella was airlifted to Atlanticare Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for treatment of his injuries from the crash. A warrant was obtained for a blood draw of Pillarella's blood. Mr. Pillarella was treated and released from the hospital, and was initially issued several motor vehicle summonses.
Further investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department resulted in the filing of additional charges against Mr. Pillarella on February 1, 2021, for Aggravated Assault and Assault by Auto, Two Counts to each of the offenses relating to both juvenile victims. Pillarella was taken into custody without incident on that date by Officers from The Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and has been lodged in The Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
On February 9, 2021, the female passenger in the Toyota XB succumbed to the injuries she sustained as a result of the January 30th crash. She was pronounced deceased at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. As a consequence, the charges against Pillarella were upgraded to include Aggravated Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide, relative to the female juvenile passenger. The charges of Aggravated Assault and Assault by Auto are in connection with the female driver, who continues to recover from her serious injuries.
On February 15, 2021, Detectives from The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office received the laboratory results relative to Pillarellas blood draw; those results revealed that Pillarella was under the influence of Alprazolam, Methadone, and Fentanyl at the time of the crash, and was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of The State of New Jersey.
Further investigation revealed that Pillarella was operating his motor vehicle at an excessive speed, it was determined he was travelling at 74-miles per hour at the time of the crash, for which he has also been charged with speeding.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the diligent efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies that participated in the investigation resulting in the Indictment of Mr. Pillarella.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER JUNE 25, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: