LAVALLETTE NEW JERSEY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN THE OCTOBER 19, 2021 FATAL PEDESTRIAN COLLISION
" Brian Kosanke Has Plead Guilty To Vehicular Homicide That Claimed The Life Of 80-Year-Old Thomas Castronovo of Warren, New Jersey."
November 20, 2021 By John Elberger Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
TOMS RIVER, NJ.- Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan, Jr. announced that on Thursday, November 18, 2021, Brian Kosanke, 41, of Lavallette, New Jersey Pled Guilty to Vehicular Homicide, before The Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C., in connection to the Death of Thomas Castronovo, 80, of Warren, New Jersey, on October 19, 2019 in Lavallette, New Jersey.
Mr. Kosanke also Pled Guilty to Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution; and Driving While Intoxicated.
At the time of Mr. Kosanke Sentencing on January 21, 2022, The State will be seeking a Term of Eight Years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of The No Early Release Act, with regard to the Vehicular Homicide offense, and eighteen months New Jersey State Prison as to the Hindering charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On October 19, 2019, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Members of The Lavallette Police Department responded to area of Route 35 North and Guyer Avenue on a report of a Pedestrian with Serious Injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, Police Officers discovered that Mr. Castronovo had been struck by a vehicle operated by Mr. Kosanke. Lifesaving measures were administered to Mr. Castronovo at the scene, and Mr. Castronovo was thereafter transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, New Jersey, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
An investigation by Detectives from The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Lavallette Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that Mr. Kosanke was traveling Northbound on Route 35 when he struck Mr. Castronovo as he was crossing at Guyer Avenue.
Mr. Kosanke agreed to submit to a blood sample and was transported to the hospital for same. The results of the blood sample revealed that Kosanke was under the influence of Xanax, Cocaine, Fentanyl and Gabapentin when he struck Mr. Castronovo. A warrant was issued for Kosanke’s arrest, and he was apprehended on November 7, 2019. Kosanke has been lodged in The Ocean County Jail since the date of his arrest.
First Assistant Prosecutor Nolan commends the efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Sheehan and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron who are handling the case on behalf of The State, as well as The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Lavallette Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Mr. Kosanke’s Arrest, Guilty Pleas, and his upcoming State Prison Sentence.
FILED UNDER NOVEMBER 20, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: