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Death of Marine from joint base under investigation

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Sgt. Tristan Clinger was found dead Saturday on the base.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- The death of a Marine assigned to a unit at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst remained under investigation Monday by federal authorities, officials said.

Sgt. Tristan Clinger was found dead Saturday on the base. His wife reported him missing on Dec. 20, said base spokesman Air Force Maj. Omar Villarreal.

tristan-clinger.jpgTristan Clinger 

Clinger is originally from Jefferson County, Ky. outside Louisville. He was 28 years old.

Villarreal said the Marine's death was under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and they are being assisted by military authorities on the joint base.

Clinger was a helicopter mechanic with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, part of the Marine Aircraft Group 49 on base.

The unit is in the Marine reserves, but Clinger was on active duty, base officials said.

Villarreal and Marine officials did not elaborate on Clinger's cause of death or any other details surrounding the investigation.

Rachel Clinger, Tristan Clinger's wife, told Fox 29 news in Philadelphia that her husband had been suffering from depression and walked out of their home on the base after she reported it.

"When you're in the military, like he felt that he couldn't get help because he felt that if he tried to get help, they would kick him out, and he would lose his job," Rachel Clinger said in a Fox 29 interview. "And he just saw his life crumbling from that point, so he was afraid to get help."

Clinger's body was found during a search coordinated by Missing in America, based in Bridgewater, and Burlington County K-9 Search & Rescue - the organization that located 44-year-old Christine Rosie alive in Hamilton in September after she was missing for a week.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.  

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'Floragraphs' to honor 3 late N.J. residents at Rose Parade

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The annual parade will create flower portraits of 60 organ donors from across the country.

PASADENA, Calif. -- Three late New Jersey residents will be among 60 honored in flower form on the 2016 Donate Life float in the Rose Bowl parade on New Year's Day.

Each year, the organ donation organization and the affiliated NJ Sharing Network create the likenesses of donors from across the country out of flowers, petals, and seeds. 2016 will mark the 127th annual Rose Parade, which Donate Life has participated in for the past 13 years. Its float features "flora graph" portraits of late donors, and riders include living donors and organ recipients.

"The act of organ and tissue donation weaves together a tapestry of donors and recipients, of hope and remembrance, and beloved family and friends who live on through the most miraculous of gifts," Tom Mone, Chairman of the Donate Life float committee, said in a release about the event.

The New Jersey honorees include:

  • Betsy Niles: A Montclair mom and children's book author who died in March 2011 after being struck by a van while on her way to the Montclair train station. Niles's kidney was donated to Valentine Samuels, 53, of Newark.
  • Andrew Jova: The Brick Township 17-year-old was killed in a 2008 car accident. His organs were donated to five people.
  • Robert McCullion: A Toms River dad and tech industry professional who became a tissue and cornea donor when he died in 2014 at age 68.

Friends, family members, and donation recipients have gathered over the past several months to help put together the floragraphs, and many will travel to Pasadena to take part in the parade.

"My son is a hero," Jennifer Jova said in a statement about her son, Andrew.

"To me, it means so much that Andrew will not be forgotten. I know my son is being remembered and thought of and thanked."

In addition, two others from New Jersey - living donor Donna Albanese, of Scotch Plains, who donated her kidney to her mother and Mark Meade, a heart donation recipient from Princeton Junction - will take part in the parade, as well. The floragraphs will be accompanied by 24 organ recipients and 12 living donors.

The process, recipients said, is a good way to thank the families of the people who saved their lives.

"I wanted them to know how grateful I am for the kidney and how it has changed my life," Samuels said in a release.

"They have given me new life."

The Rose Parade kicks off at 8 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Ocean County's Top 10 stories of 2015

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10 memorable stories from throughout Ocean County that occurred in 2015.

From eroding beaches and exploding houses to high-profile court cases and a staggering drug epidemic, Ocean County produced plenty of significant storylines in 2015.

In the gallery above, we have compiled a list of 10 of Ocean County's more memorable stories from the year in terms of readership and significance.

Click through the gallery to see the captioned photos and then let us know in the comment section below if there is a story we missed or if we ranked a story too high on our list.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Does N.J. really lead the nation in births of twins?

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Nationally, twin births are at their highest ever, while the rates for triplets, quadruplets and quintuplets remain flat.

New Jersey mothers lead the nation in their likelihood to give birth to twins.

The same is not true for triplets, however.

Nationally, twin births are at their highest ever, while the rates for triplets, quadruplets and quintuplets remain flat.

The latest crop of birth statistics from the federal government shows the Garden State's overall birth rate is slightly below the national average.

In 2014, there were 103,305 babies born here - some of the nearly 4 million babies born in the United States.

The state's birth rate for twins - or the number of twin babies born per 1,000 births - was 43.1, well above the national rate of 33.6.

During the combined years of 2012 through 2014, there were 13,364 twins born in New Jersey. Triplets, along with quadruplets and quintuplets, were far less common: During those same three years, only 456 of them were born.

 

The annual National Vital Statistics Report contained good news on several fronts:

  • The birth rate for teenage mothers continues its decline: It dropped another 9 percent from 2013, achieving a new historic low for women ages 15-19.
  • Births to unmarried women also dropped for the sixth consecutive year. Those babies still accounted for two out of every five born in 2014.
  • The percentage of babies born by cesarean section dropped slightly for the second year - but still accounts for nearly a third (32.2 percent) of all deliveries.
  • Another medical improvement was seen in how many babies are born before 37 weeks, which continued to be nudged downward. New Jersey was among the states that managed to lower this number.
  • The average age for first time mothers ticked up slightly, to 26.3 years, as birth rates for women in their early twenties hit a record low.
  • On the other end of the age spectrum, the report documented 743 live births to women ages 50 and over.

Jennifer O'Dea, of Red Bank, suspects the rise in twins is courtesy of the use of in vitro fertilization, during which infertility doctors will often implant two or more embryos in hopes of producing a viable pregnancy.

O'Dea had twin boys 3 1/2 years ago, but because both were premature, they have required occupational and physical therapy. As much as she enjoys her boys, she said she feels people often romanticize the notion of twins and neglect to understand the challenges posed by their often premature births. 

She's a member of Jersey Shore Moms of Multiples, but had to quit her job to oversee all the therapy appointments her sons need. 

She said should would love to write a blog about the realities of raising twins, "but honestly, I don't have enough hours in the day."

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Driver killed in Jersey City crash this morning was on wrong side of highway: police

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The driver who was killed in a head-on collision on Routes 1&9 in Jersey City this morning was traveling on the wrong side of the highway when the crash occurred just after 6 a.m., Jersey City police said this afternoon.

The driver who was killed in a head-on collision on Routes 1&9 in Jersey City this morning was traveling on the wrong side of the highway when the crash occurred just after 6 a.m., Jersey City police said this afternoon.

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill identified the driver as a 57-year-old Jackson, N.J., man, but his name is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health and was pronounced dead there.

The man was driving a 2003 Hyundai Elantra north on Routes 1&9 when he crossed into the southbound lanes and was struck by an oncoming box truck near the Duncan Avenue intersection. There were no other people in the car.

The box truck driver stayed at the scene of the crash, police said. It was initially reported that the truck involved in the incident was a tractor-trailer. Neither the driver of the box truck nor his passenger were injured in the accident. 

Authorities did not say if the rainy and icy conditions this morning played a role in the collision, which is under investigation by the JCPD Traffic Investigation Unit.

Police searching for missing teen living in Robbinsville

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Dessie Machugh, 15, is from Barnegat Township, Ocean County, but has been living in Robbinsville, Mercer County.

ROBBINSVILLE -- Police in Barnegat Township are searching for 15-year-old Dessie Machugh, who has been living temporarily in Robbinsville, police said.

10298792_928541090556434_7541551842563262397_n.jpgDessie Machugh 

Barnegat police say Machugh left her Barnegat residence sometime between 10:30 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 26 and 8:30 a.m. Sunday Dec. 27.

Machugh is temporarily living in Robbinsville and was visiting her family in Barnegat for the holidays when she disappeared, police said.

Her destination is unknown, police said.

The teen might be wearing a low-cut black shirt, a pink or purple skirt and black knee-high boots, police said.

Anyone with information about Machugh's whereabouts is asked to call Barnegat police at 609-698-5000.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook. 

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Man crashes car into tree after speeding away from officer, police say

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Michael Carrier Jr., 24, was charged with eluding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and unregistered vehicle. He may also receive a DWI charge pending a toxicology report, said Lakewood police Sgt. Joseph Gregg.

Carrier.jpgMichael Carrier Jr., 24, of Jackson. (Ocean County jail).

LAKEWOOD -- A Jackson man was arrested Monday after he sped away from an officer and then later crashed his car into a tree, police said.

Michael Carrier Jr., 24, was charged with eluding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and unregistered vehicle. He may also receive a DWI charge pending toxicology reports, said Lakewood police Sgt. Joseph Gregg.

The crash, which injured two passengers, occurred after Carrier had fled from Officer Kristie Buble at 1:38 a.m., Gregg said.

Carrier was driving a 1993 Honda Civic on Massachusetts Avenue when Buble ran the plate and it came back as expired, Gregg said. Buble attempted to pull Carrier over, however, he sped away.

Buble pursued the Civic, but then broke away from the chase due to pedestrian traffic in the area, Gregg said.

The Civic was then located by Officer Tyler Ragauckas in the neighboring town of Jackson, after it had crashed into a tree on the front lawn of a home on East Veterans Highway.

Two passengers in the car, 24-year-old Alexis Meeker of Manchester and 19-year-old Michael Lenhart of Jackson, were injured in the crash, Gregg said. Meeker suffered a leg injury while Lenhart injured his head. 

Jackson police Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said Carrier initially left the scene of the crash but then returned. Gregg, the Lakewood sergeant, said Carrier suffered minor injuries. 

Carrier was taken to the Ocean County jail, where he remains as of Tuesday afternoon on $25,000 bail. 

Firefighters and first aid personnel from Lakewood and Jackson also responded to the crash. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Beach replenishment cases need judge's oversight, attorney says

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With hundreds of court challenges possible over easements for beach replenishment, an attorney for some oceanfront homeowners has asked a judge to allow an early conference on potential issues. Watch video

With the potential for hundreds of legal skirmishes on the horizon over beach replenishment in New Jersey, an attorney representing oceanfront homeowners wants a Superior Court judge to get more closely involved in the case.

But the request to have Judge Marlene Lynch Ford manage New Jersey's fight to get the access rights to the hundreds of beachfront properties needed for rebuilding beaches is too premature and should not be granted, attorneys for the state contend. 

Because Ford most likely will have to address the same few issues in potentially 350 cases over beach replenishment access, she would be better off stepping into the management of the case sooner rather than later, John Buonocore Jr, attorney for some of the property owners, wrote in a letter to the judge last month.

Specifically, he requested a court conference among attorneys representing the state Department of Environmental Protection, the affected Shore towns and the property owners.

"The courts will soon be presented with (the) task of resolving these questions in dozens if not hundreds of cases," Buonocore wrote in his Nov. 16 letter to Ford. "Thereafter, the potential for overlapping if not redundant discovery requests, varying and inconsistent presentations of the issues and inconsistent and conflicting results is unmistakable. Active involvement by the court in advance of these cases becoming an unmanageable jumble is warranted."

Condemnation of property rights starting in LBI beach replenishment case

Gov. Chris Christie ordered the beach replenishment as part of a massive shore protection project following Hurricane Sandy's destruction in 2012.

Statewide, there are a total of 350 easements still not signed. The law firm for which Buonocore works, McKirdy & Riskin in Morristown, represents 48 of the 176 property owners who have not signed easements giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers access to 283 properties to widen the beaches and build 22-foot high dunes in northern Ocean County alone.

And Buonocore says it's likely all of those who haven't signed easements will challenge the DEP in court.

At least one of the issues the court will have to decide, Buonocore said, is whether the DEP or municipalities even have the authority to require oceanfront property owners to forever give up rights to a portion of their property in those easements in order to build a public beach.

He said he legally can't ask for cases to be consolidated - which would in a sense force case management - because none of his clients has had eminent domain proceedings filed against them yet.

"A management conference with the court, we submit, is requested as a matter of judicial economy and in the public interest," Buonocore wrote.

But assistant attorney general David Apy said involvement by the court at this stage could hinder the state's success at negotiations with the property owners. He said the more appropriate time for the court to get involved is in what's called the valuation stage, when the parties decide how much the property owner should receive in return for giving up the rights to the piece of beachfront land.

Apy contended case management at this time would be "contrary" to the way the state's eminent domain laws are set up, which involves courts in the later stages of the process.

"Although the DEP agrees that case management may be appropriate at the valuation stage of eminent domain proceedings, case management as to any other issues would be premature, contrary to the public interest and inconsistent with the procedural requirements of the Eminent Domain Act," Apy wrote in his Nov. 25 response letter.

He said 50 condemnation actions have been filed so far in Ocean County. The state still needs 124 easements in Bay Head and 68 easements in Point Pleasant Beach - but property owners in both those towns have dug in their heels and refused to sign, making a court battle almost certain.

The public-use issue would not be pertinent to all the cases, he argued.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Missing teenager located safe in Ocean County

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Dessie Machugh was reported missing from Barnegat, and has been living recently in Robbinsville.

ROBBINSVILLE -- Dessie Machugh, the 15-year-old reported missing Tuesday, has been located safe in Brick, Barnegat police said Wednesday.

Machugh has been living temporarily in Robbinsville, police said.

She had been reported missing following a visit to her family in Barnegat this past weekend, police said.

The missing 15 yoa juvenile Dessie Machugh has been located in Brick NJ and is safe.

Posted by Barnegat Police Department on Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook. 

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Police ID victim of fatal Jersey City crash as Ocean County man

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Police have identified the victim of a fatal accident on Routes 1&9 and Duncan Avenue as 57-year-old Jackson man.

JERSEY CITY -- Police have identified the victim of yesterday's fatal accident on Routes 1&9 and Duncan Avenue as Scott J. Smith of Jackson. 

The 57-year-old Ocean County man was traveling north on the busy section of the roadway when he crossed into the southbound lanes and struck an oncoming box truck just after 6 a.m., Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. 

No one was else was injured in the crash. Smith was traveling alone in a 2003 Hyundai Elantra and the driver of the truck remained at the scene, Morrill said. 

Smith was extricated from the vehicle and pronounced dead shortly after the accident at Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health, Morrill said. 

The incident is still under investigation by the Jersey City Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit, Morrill added.  

Fire ignited by plumber's torch destroys Brick home, authorities said

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Neighbors said the fire started when a plumber used a torch to sweat a pipe in an upstairs bathroom.

BRICK TOWNSHIP -- Two people escaped injury when their house went up in flames in Brick Township on Wednesday morning.

Authorities said the fire in one of the units of the Primrose Lane condominium complex started when a plumber was using a torch to sweat a pipe in an upstairs bathroom.

The owners, who were home at the time, escaped injury but the unit was destroyed, said property manager Joanne Sullivan.

Brick fire safety chief Kevin Batzel said the fire started around 9:40 a.m. when an HVAC contractor was working on a diverter in the tub-shower area of the bathroom and was sweating one of the pipes in the wall. He said the torch ignited insulation and the flames traveled up the wall to the attic.

Batzel said a masonry fire wall between the units and quick work by firefighters stopped the flames from traveling to another condo. 

He said a section of the roof collapsed where the flames were the heaviest. 

Robert Wilson and John MacLeary said they were talking to each other outside when they noticed flames shooting out of the roof.

"All of a sudden I smelled smoke and saw fire coming out," said MacLeary, who lives in the complex.

He said the owner kept rushing in and out of the condominium to retrieve belongings, such as papers, until a police officer stopped him. The man's wife had been inside, he said.

"At that time, smoke was coming out the doors, smoke was coming out the windows," MacLeary said.

He said he knocked on neighbors' doors to make sure they left.

Allison Wakefield, 11, said she was walking her dog when she noticed the flames.

"It didn't smell. It was just big," she said. "I went inside to go tell my mother."

Wilson, who works for Home Depot, was installing windows in a nearby unit when the fire broke out. He and MacLeary said the owner told them a plumber was working on pipes with a torch when the fire broke out.

Tim Hanna, a maintenance worker for the complex, said he initially speculated that the fire was caused by an item that has been popular with kids, but also known to burst into flames while charging.

"We thought it was a hoverboard," he said.

By 10:30 a.m. pale smoke could be seen wafting from the roof and firefighters had made their way inside to the second floor to start knocking out windows and wallboard.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Port Authority cop killed in crash loved protecting Freedom Tower, family says

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The Port Authority cop who died in a crash early Tuesday loved the bagpipes, skiing, animals, hiking and life.

19470206-mmmain.pngEamonn Mautone during Port Authority Police Academy (Joshua Maarveld) 

EAST BRUNSWICK -- When Eamonn Mautone and his two brothers were small, their mother put bagpipes in their hands, partly to "keep them out of trouble" and partly to remind them of their Irish heritage, according to their aunt, Kathleen.

Eamonn, 25, of oldest of the three, would carry his loved of bagpipes into adulthood, becoming a member of the Ocean County Emerald Society.

He died in a single-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick early Tuesday morning.

"They were joined at the hip," Kathleen, their mother's sister, said of the brothers, who included Sean and Brendan. "They were so close."

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/12/off-duty_port_authority_cop_killed_in_nj_turnpike.html

The three grew up in Jackson Township where Eamonn, a Port Authority police officer, was living with his parents, Edmond and Bridget, at the time of the accident.

"He was saving up money to buy a house," his aunt said.

Kathleen remembered her nephew as "the sweetest, nicest kid you'd ever know."

"He was a very nice, caring person," she said. "Everyone loved him."

Eamonn was a graduate of Kean University with a bachelor's degree in history and while he was in college decided to become a member of law enforcement.

He joined the Port Authority Police Department and was sworn in August 2014 as part of the Port Authority Academy's largest ever graduating class.

Mautone was assigned to the World Trade Center command, according to Port Authority police.

"He loved being a Port Authority police officer and he especially loved being stationed at the Freedom Tower," his aunt said. "They lowered the flag at the Freedom Tower to half staff for him today (Wednesday)."

She said her nephew loved his girlfriend of five years, Amanda. He also loved nature, animals, "especially his dog, Clancy," to ski, hike and loved sailing.

"He loved to go up to New Hampshire where he go into the mountains--go skiing and hiking," Kathleen said.

She said his death has left the family in a state of shock.

"He was only 25," the aunt said. "We're all a mess."

State Police said the accident occurred in the southbound truck lanes at about 3:20 a.m. when Mautone, who was off duty at the time, lost control of his car and crashed into the left guardrail.

No other cars were involved in the crash.

Police believe the rainy conditions overnight may have played a role in the accident.

A wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Timothy Ryan Debow Chapel in Jackson. Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Catharine Church in Spring Lake, followed by burial at St. Anne Cemetery in Wall.

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Our favorite vintage N.J. photos from 2015

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Thousands upon thousands of superb snapshots are sitting in photo albums throughout the state just waiting for their chance to be in a gallery; send them in!

In the past year, we've posted 51 galleries of vintage photos from New Jersey.

The topics have ranged from motorcycling to Memorial Day, from festivals to foods. We've looked at supermarkets and street scenes, diners and mansions, weddings and graduations.

Over the past few years, we've collected more than 10,000 photos on topics like these, all taken in New Jersey before 1986. But there's something missing. We'd like to see photos you've taken.

There's no doubt that some of the very best photos we've posted in these galleries have come from Instamatics, Poloroids and Canons held and aimed by our readers. Over the years, readers have submitted never-before-published photos of John F. Kennedy, Rin Tin Tin and Frankie Valli as well as wonderful pictures of everyday slices of life.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Here's a gallery of the photos from this past year's galleries that we, in our humble opinions, felt were the cream of the crop. I'm certain that thousands upon thousands of equally superb snapshots are sitting in photo albums throughout the state just waiting for their chance to be in a gallery. You know the topics we do; in 2016, continue to show us what you've got!

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Lacey officer will not face charges after fatally hitting man with patrol car

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In a press release following a meeting with the family, the prosecutor's office announced it would not file criminal or motor vehicle charges against Slota, saying there are "no grounds" for such offenses.

LACEY TOWNSHIP -- Authorities will not charge a township patrolman who fatally struck a 25-year-old man with his patrol car while on-duty. 

The officer, Andrew Slota, was responding to a call July 5 at the Oyster Creek nuclear plant when he hit Neil Van De Putte at around 3:25 a.m. as he crossed Lacey Road near the intersection of Deerhead Lake Road. 

The incident was investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and, due to to the involvement of a Lacey officer, the Toms River Police Department.

On Thursday, Van De Putte's family had a meeting with investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office to discuss the findings of its investigation.

In a press release following the meeting, Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced he would not file criminal or motor vehicle charges against Slota, saying there are "no grounds" for such offenses.

These findings are consistent with those of the Toms River police investigation, which concluded in September. That report cleared Slota of any wrongdoing, but noted that, "it is not unreasonable that Officer Slota exceeded the speed limit" on Lacey Road, and that he did not have his emergency lights or sirens activated while responding to the call. Slota did have on his headlights, however. 

Van De Putte was at fault because he crossed against the traffic signal, the report concluded. The prosecutor's office report noted that Van De Putte was intoxicated at the time of the incident. 

Slota is still actively on patrol for the Lacey Township police, but he could face disciplinary action following an internal investigation from his own department. Lacey police Chief David A. Paprota said the department would conduct that investigation at the conclusion of the prosecutor's office's review, per state policy. 

"The case has not yet been returned to Lacey from the county prosecutor, so we have not yet been able to commence with an internal investigation," Paprota said in an email on Wednesday. 

The case began when a 911 call came from an Oyster Creek security guard reporting two males, who appeared to be drunk, were on the south bridge "kicking the fence and horsing around."

The Toms River investigation report and authorities say officers were on heightened alert, given it was the Fourth of July holiday weekend and the call involved a nuclear power plant.

But Slota never made it to the power plant, as he fatally struck Van De Putte as he crossed Lacey Road at around 3:25 a.m. with a friend, Max Dolphin. Slota had swerved to avoid hitting Van De Putte but could not, authorities said.

Van De Putte and Dolphin had been out visiting friends during the July Fourth weekend and opted to walk home, Dolphin told NJ Advance Media in September. 

He said that he and Van De Putte had been drinking. They brought skateboards with them to a couple parties, but opted to walk home because "it was a nice night."

He said they didn't have the cue to walk across the intersection, but that the road was clear of traffic. 

"I've made that walk 100 times in my life at that hour," Dolphin said. "If the road is clear, you're going to cross the intersection.

"I will not forget a certain detail from that night, as long as I live, the road was clear when we started walking," he continued. "The officers weren't in line of sight when we started walking, they appeared so quickly."

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said it underwent an "exhaustive crash scene analysis" of the incident. That investigation included forensic analysis of crash scene evidence, documenting pre - and post-impact trajectories, examining traffic control devices and canvassing the area for surveillance footage from businesses. 

Investigators also spoke to a motorist who witnessed the collision who "confirmed that Officer Slota was proceeding under the green traffic signal, and that (Van De Putte) could not be avoided," according to authorities. 

Van De Putte's mother, Yvonne Yaar-Sharkey, said before Thursday's meeting that she didn't expect charges to be brought against Slota. She and Dolphin have previously said they want Van De Putte's death to bring about change.

"How do you make sense of this?" Dolphin said. "Neil's death is totally senseless. I just wish it didn't have to be meaningless."

After a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed by a patrol car in Franklin Township in Gloucester County in March, the county prosecutor, Sean Dalton, directed all police departments in the county to adopt a standardized policy regarding the use of lights and sirens when responding to calls. The officer, Nicholas Locilento, did not have his emergency lights and siren activated, and was also cleared of any wrongdoing.

Van De Putte was a physics major and math minor at Drew University in Madison. He was on his way to a promising career, his friends and professors said. Van De Putte won an esteemed award in physics and astronomy and hoped to attend graduate school at Columbia University.

In November, Drew University President MaryAnn Baenninger announced Van De Putte will receive an honorary degree posthumously at the 2016 commencement ceremony. His sister, Alyse, will walk for him in his honor.

Meanwhile, Yaar-Sharkey started a research endowment in honor of her son, "The Neil Van De Putte Fund for Excellence in Physics and Math." The fund has raised more than $22,700.

Yaar-Sharkey said Van De Putte's death is finally "starting to sink in more."

But there are still many sleepless nights, she said.

"It's really difficult," Yaar-Sharkey said. "I don't think I'll ever be the same. ... It is just really hard to swallow." 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

N.J. town makes zoning change that could affect natural gas pipeline proposal

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One of the nine parcels is a 26-acre piece of land on which Williams Co. has proposed to build a compressor and meter station

CHESTERFIELD -- A tract of land where a natural gas pipeline company is proposing to build a compressor station has been rezoned, a change that could affect the project.

Chesterfield Township Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to change the zoning of more than 130 acres along the New Jersey Turnpike from "office park" to "agricultural."

One of the nine parcels is a 26-acre piece of land on which Williams Co. has proposed to build a compressor and meter station. The project's electrical substation is planned for an adjacent piece of land that would not be affected by the zoning change.

Williams, which owns and operates the Transco pipeline, is awaiting approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build an electric-powered compressor that would take gas from its Trenton Woodbury line and send it into a 30-inch pipeline being proposed by New Jersey Natural Gas.

The pipeline would span 28 miles across several Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean county towns. Both projects have been vehemently opposed by residents and township officials.

As part of the change, utility infrastructure would no longer be a permitted use in the zone, Mayor Jeremy Liedtka said Thursday.

PSE&G, which owns two of the parcels and has a substation there, is grandfathered in, he said.

Liedtka said he expects there will be some pushback from Williams, though he said FERC's approval would likely supersede local zoning laws.

"I don't know if it's going to affect their project," he said. "Some way or form, I'm sure we'll hear back from them."

The issue to change the zoning went before the planning board twice before reaching the governing body, Liedtka said, adding that the change is a better fit for the township.

"We're an agricultural community and a lot of the pieces around it were already preserved," he said. "We made everything continuous so hopefully it stays agricultural."

Despite being zoned commercial, the land has remained largely undeveloped over the years and developers have shown little to no interest.

"Agricultural doesn't bring any ratables in, but it doesn't require any services to be rendered," he said. "It doesn't cost the township any money."

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.


6 cars collide after man accidentally steps on gas, police say

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Manuel Sueiro was attempting to back up from a parking space in the Shoprite parking lot on Route 70 at around 3:12 p.m. when he stepped on the gas pedal of his 2015 Toyota Venza instead of the brakes, Capt. Todd Malland said.

MANCHESTER -- A 78-year-old Toms River man caused a six-vehicle crash Wednesday in a super market parking lot after he inadvertently accelerated his vehicle, police said.

Manuel Sueiro was attempting to back up from a parking space in the Shoprite parking lot on Route 70 at around 3:12 p.m. when he stepped on the gas pedal of his 2015 Toyota Venza instead of the brakes, Capt. Todd Malland said.

Sueiro's Toyota crashed into a 2008 Ford Explorer and a red 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, Malland said. The Explorer then collided with a 1996 Buick Century and a brown 2004 Saab 344, which slid 25 feet before hitting a beige 2009 Hyundai Sonata.

All the vehicles, aside from Sueiro's Toyota, were unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Suerio and a passenger in his vehicle, 52-year-old Rosemarie Sueiro, did not suffer any injuries, Malland said.

The western portion of the parking lot was closed for several hours as tow trucks worked to separate the vehicles.

The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Ian Bole of the Manchester police Traffic Safety Unit. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Man headed to visit 'Facebook girlfriend' arrested with cache of weapons

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Antonio Perez was headed to meet his "girlfriend" whom he had met on Facebook two years earlier but had yet to meet in person, police said.

antonio perez.jpgAntonio Perez 

BRICK TOWNSHIP -- An Indiana man carrying an arsenal to visit his "Facebook girlfriend" in Brick Township was arrested after police found him sleeping in his car, authorities said Thursday.

While conducting a routine check of the area, township patrolmen found Antonio J. Perez, 24, of Elkhart, Ind., sleeping in his car at the Boland Field Baseball Complex on Lanes Mill Road at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, said Brick Detective Sgt. Henry Drew, a police spokesman.

He said further investigation by Detective Robert Shepherd revealed Perez was headed to meet his "girlfriend" whom he had met on Facebook two years earlier but had yet to meet in person.

Police found with Perez four loaded weapons, 1,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, a canister of pepper spray and a gas mask, he said.

The guns were a Sig Sauer P226 40-caliber handgun a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver and a WASR 10, which is an AK47-style weapon, with a loaded 30-round magazine, Drew said.

Drew said police do not know the actual nature of the relationship between Perez and the woman., who lives in Brick. He said police are also unsure whether she knew if he was coming but after checking on her, they determined she was unharmed. Police believe Perez was sleeping in his car after being tired from the long drive.

Drew said the woman lives in the area of the baseball complex but investigators don't believe he was watching her.

Patrolmen Mark Nixon, Mark Catalina and Marc Alexander found him by chance when checking the area, Drew said.

Perez was charged with stalking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a rifle, possession of other weapons, possession of destructive devices and possession of certain bullets. He was also charged with two counts of possession of large capacity ammunition magazine, possession of a handgun, disposition of weapons, disposition of an assault firearm, possession of marijuana, and having an unregistered vehicle.

Bail was set by municipal court Judge Robert Lepore at $100,000 with no 10-percent option.  He was being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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3 tasty ways to kick off 2016 in N.J.

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Food Trucks & Fireworks, a New Year's Day brunch and Three Kings Day provide a small sampling of what's on the table for the first week of the new year

New Year's Eve may get all of the attention for being the bigger bash for this time of year, but there is no rule that the fun times must come to an end once Jan. 1 arrives. Instead, look at it as the start of a whole new cycle of celebrations. Here is a look at three delicious ways to enjoy the first week of the new year.

FOOD TRUCKS & FIREWORKS

How are you spending New Year's Day? The Tuckerton Seaport is getting things started with a bang in the form of Food Trucks & Fireworks, from noon to 6 p.m. on Jan. 1. This free-to-attend, family-friendly event is great way to sample offerings from different food truck vendors including Cheezen (gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches); Five Sisters (pub-inspired foods and sauces); House of Cupcakes (winner of "Cupcake Wars"); Dump 'n Roll (bite-sized dumplings and spring rolls); Pompier Pierogi Flats (Polish dumplings and flatbreads); and Zinna's Bistro (house-made delicious Italian specialties). Add ice cream making demos, hayrides, s'mores, live entertainment, and the ingredients are in place to make Jan. 1 a fun and memorable day. The fireworks will take place at 6 p.m. over the lake. 120 W. Main St., Tuckerton. 609-296-8868. 

NEW YEAR'S DAY BRUNCH

Those spending the holiday in Sussex County, and craving more sparkling wine and a scrumptious buffet will not have to go far: the Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort is hosting a grand brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Besides free-flowing champagne and mimosas, the buffet will be stocked with eggs, local sausages, fresh pastries, pancakes, waffles, carved meats and more. The cost is $34.95 for adults 12 and over; children ages 4 to 11, $18. Space is limited. 3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg. 855-977-6473.   

THREE KINGS DAY 

The Christmas season doesn't end after Christmas Day. Jan. 6 represents a special day across various cultures, Three Kings Day (Epiphany), the height of the Christmas season. Many celebrate this day with a traditional king cake, which varies slightly in name and preparation depending the country of origin, yet are closely related. In North Jersey, Clemence Danko, owner of Choc O Pain Bakery & Cafe, is sharing how the French celebrate the day: by preparing a galette des rois, which is filled with almond cream and pastry cream. The tradition is to have a little porcelain trinket hidden inside, called a "feve" (as in fava bean). The one who finds it is crowned the king or queen and must choose a queen or a king. This special item is available for purchase through Jan. 31 for $27.95 (serves six). 157 First St., Hoboken. 201-710-5175. 530 Jersey Ave., Jersey City. 201-435-2462. 

Contact Bill Gelman at bkgelman@hotmail.com

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2 Ocean County youths 'extremely critical' after Route 1 crash

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Eight people in total were injured.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- Two Ocean County youths are hospitalized with "extremely critical" injuries suffered in a New Year's Day car crash on Route 1.

One other person is in critical but stable condition, and five others were hospitalized in the crash that left two cars in a mangled wreck in the early hours of 2016.

Captain James Ryan of the South Brunswick Police Department said that the police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash, which involved a Nissan Sentra and a minivan and occurred at around 5:16 a.m.

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2016/01/8_hospitalized_in_route_1_crash_roadway_back_open.html

Police said the minivan was headed north on Route 1 as the Sentra was crossing the Route 1 north lanes onto Deans Lane when the collision occurred. Police said the driver of the Sentra may have been distracted by a cellphone, and ran the red light at the jughandle. There are no indications that alcohol was involved in the crash, but police are continuing to investigate, Ryan said.

The ages of those in the Sentra ranged from 12 to 27. The two most critically injured occupants were 12 and 15 years old, and the driver was the eldest.

First-responders from the Monmouth Junction Fire Department had to use the jaws of life to free the five occupants of the Sentra.

The two front passengers of the minivan were 59-year-old residents of North Brunswick. Another family member was also in the van.

Police have not released the names of any of those injured. Seven were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and one to St. Peter's Hospital, both in New Brunswick.

The roadway was closed for about six hours as police investigated the crash.

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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