By:Sally Goldenberg
Manville resident Michael Bickar, 33, died after he was struck by a car while crossing South Main Street Monday night, according to the Manville Police Department.
Mr. Bickar, a lifelong borough resident, was walking east at 11:05 p.m. Monday when the driver of a 1996 Honda Civic, 18-year-old Tonya Gonzalez of Hillsborough, hit him, Manville Sgt. Jeffrey Petrone said.
"Due to injuries sustained to Mr. Bickar, he was pronounced dead at 6:30 a.m. (Tuesday) at Robert Wood Johnson," University Hospital in New Brunswick, Sgt. Petrone said.
"He was transported by the Manville Rescue Squad to Robert Wood Johnson," he added.
The Manville Police Department is working with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team to investigate the incident, he said.
"Preliminary investigations show that there was no alcohol or drug involvement for the driver of the vehicle," he said. "It’s still under investigation."
Police have not charged Ms. Gonzalez.
The New Jersey Medical Examiner in Newark is conducting an autopsy and should have the results within six to eight weeks, Sgt. Petrone said.
The prosecutor’s office did not return a call for comment yesterday.
Mr. Bickar was employed at Cool-A-Matic in Manville as an heating, ventilation air conditioning mechanic for 11 years and stopped working there in September, an employee said.
All superiors at Cool-A-Matic were unavailable for comment yesterday.
Mr. Bickar is survived by his mother, father, and three brothers, nephews and nieces, according to information provided by the Ketusky Funeral Home.
The funeral home on Brooks Boulevard will hold a viewing tomorrow, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Mr. Bickar will be buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Hillsborough.
Police urge anyone with information regarding the investigation to call the department at 725-1900 or the prosecutor’s office at 575-3300.

