An off-duty state trooper was charged on Friday with one count of second-degree vehicular homicide stemming from a fatal motor vehicle collision on Route 35 north in Middletown on Sept. 14.
Christopher M. Brozyna, 28, of Hazlet, reportedly crashed his car into a vehicle driven by Ernesto Stamaria, 55, of Old Bridge, who died as a result of the accident.
Brozyna was also issued motor vehicle summonses with charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, improper lane change and failure to wear a seat belt.
The Middletown Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team conducted the investigation, which concluded that at approximately 12:10 a.m. on Sept. 14, Stamaria, driving his 1997 GMC Jimmy SUV, was struck from behind by Brozyna’s Ford Mustang. Stamaria’s vehicle rotated clockwise and overturned, which ejected him from the vehicle.
He then was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where he was pronounced dead at 3:37 a.m. as a result of his injuries.
Brozyna was taken to Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, for treatment of minor injuries. Lab testing of his blood revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was substantially above .08, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
On Sept. 21, Brozyna surrendered at Middletown Police Headquarters and bail was set at $50,000 by Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet. Brozyna was released after posting bail.
If convicted of vehicular homicide, Brozyna faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Brozyna is currently employed as a New Jersey State Trooper, but was not on duty at the time of the collision.
“The death of Mr. Stamaria constitutes another profoundly sad reminder of the tragic consequences of drinking and driving,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A Valentin said in a press release. “It is imperative that people contemplate the potential ramifications of driving while intoxicated and make intelligent and responsible choices.”
Valentin requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact Lt. R. Craig Weber of the Middletown Police Department at (732) 615-2100 or Agent Reginald Grant of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533- 7443.