MARLBORO — Police are investigating two unrelated motor vehicle accidents on Route 9 which resulted in two pedestrian fatalities this month.
The first accident, which occurred at about 4:15 p.m. June 11 on Route 9 north near Union Hill Road, claimed the life of Thomas Williams, 57, a resident at the Marlboro Motor Lodge, Route 9.
According to a Sgt. Joseph Lenge of the traffic and safety unit of the Marlboro police department, Williams was struck by a vehicle driven by Lalitkuma N. Mehta, of Englishtown, apparently while he was crossing Route 9 at the intersection of Union Hill Road.
"Williams was believed to be making his way from the north side to the south side of Route 9 when he was struck by Mehta’s vehicle," Lenge said. "He died at the scene of the accident."
Mehta and an unidentified passenger in his vehicle were transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division, for medical evaluation and were later released.
According to Lenge, the victim’s identity was not immediately known. Williams was positively identified and his next of kin were notified following an initial investigation of the accident by Marlboro police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
No charges were filed against Mehta following the accident, which remains under investigation, Lenge said.
The second fatal accident, which occurred on June 19 shortly before midnight on Route 9 south near Sandburg Drive, resulted in the death of Tatyana Ilyina, a Russian native.
According to Lenge, it is believed that Ilyina, 49, who was staying with a friend on Rosen Drive, might have disembarked from a bus on Route 9 and was crossing the highway to return to the residence when the accident occurred.
Rosen Drive is just east of Route 9, off Bartram Road, almost directly across from Sandburg Drive.
Ilyina was struck in the middle of the highway by a vehicle driven by Jane F. Morlano of Manalapan. Both were transported to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, where Ilyina was pronounced dead. Morlano was treated for undisclosed injuries and later released.
Lenge said no charges were filed against Morlano following the accident, which remains under investigation by the traffic and safety unit and the prosecutor’s office.

