Two-car crash killed
Jackson police officer
and two sisters
receives $2.5 million
Two-car crash killed
Jackson police officer
and two sisters
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer
JACKSON — More than two years since a deadly accident on West Veterans Highway resulted in the loss of three lives, the township has reached an agreement with attorneys representing the survivors and victims in the crash, making the total settlement worth more than $3.5 million.
"This is not an admission of liability on the township’s part," said Kevin Starkey, Jackson’s township attorney. "It was a tragic accident and we just thought it was in the best interests of both parties to resolve it."
According to Starkey, the township’s insurance carrier — Municipal Excess Liability Fund (MEL) — is covering the entire settlement amount. MEL is a joint insurance policy to which municipalities across the state subscribe. He said the township’s premiums would not go up due to the settlement.
However, attorney James Maggs, a partner in the firm of Maggs and McDermott, of Brielle, said the settlement does not begin to cover the shattered life of his client, Alexander Ioileff, in the wake of what he described as a horrific accident.
The accident occurred on March 18, 2001, at about midnight, said Maggs. Jackson Police Officer Robert Ventura, 33, in his second year of employment with the township, was driving his Ford Crown Victoria police car east on West Veterans Highway, while Philip Piskin-Cobb, 18, of Jackson, was driving west in a 1991 Honda Accord 4-door sedan.
Ioileff, 45, a bridge inspector, was behind Piskin-Cobb, driving a 1996 Honda Accord station wagon in which his wife, Kathleen, 41, and his sister-in-law, Marie Heiss, 37, of Brick, were passengers.
"The weather conditions were very poor," Maggs said. "It was raining and the roads were extremely slick."
Maggs said independent experts and representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Ventura, who was on patrol but not responding to a police call or other emergency, was traveling above the posted 50 mph speed limit.
When Piskin-Cobb made a sudden left turn onto Walter Drive, cutting off the police car, Ventura swerved to avoid hitting Piskin-Cobb, crossed the center of the road and crashed head on into Ioileff’s oncoming Honda.
"It was determined by experts retained by attorneys for Piskin-Cobb that Ventura was traveling between 64 to 70 or more mph when he crossed the yellow divider and entered Mr. Ioileff’s lane of travel," Maggs said.
Maggs said Ioileff’s vehicle was traveling about 40 mph in the inclement weather.
Ventura, Kathleen Ioileff and Heiss all died at the scene of the accident. Ioileff lay in a coma for two months and sustained multiple and permanent injuries, including palsy to the right side of his face, the loss of vision in one eye and associated cognitive problems, the attorney said.
Piskin-Cobb’s vehicle was not involved in the collision, but he was initially charged with careless driving. He subsequently pled guilty to a lesser charge of making an unsafe lane change. Part of the agreement was that his guilty plea could not be used in civil litigation, Maggs confirmed.
"The issue in the case was whether Piskin-Cobb contributed to the accident by making a left turn onto Walter Drive," Maggs said. "He maintained that he had not done anything improper in making the turn, but his insurance company paid $175,000 to Mr. Ioileff and $75,000 each to the estates of Kathleen Ioileff and Marie Heiss."
Maggs’ sister, Marguerite Maggs, represents the estates of Kathleen Ioileff and Marie Heiss.
Heiss was unmarried and both she and the Ioileffs had no children.
Ventura left a wife, Jennifer, and two children.
According to the New Jersey Policemen’s Benevolent Association Internet Web site, Ventura was the first Jackson police officer to die in the line of duty.
The total settlement came to $3,525,000; $2,525,000 of which was paid to Alexander Ioileff. The estate of his wife, Kathleen, received $575,000, and the estate of Marie Heiss was awarded $425,000.
Jackson Township paid Ioileff $2,350,000 and Piskin-Cobb paid $175,000. Jackson paid Kathleen Ioileff’s estate $500,000 and Marie Heiss’s estate $350,000.
"The payment by Jackson Township to Mr. Ioileff acknowledges that my client was not at fault and did not contribute to this accident," the attorney said. "Our investigation revealed that Officer Ventura was traveling well in excess of the speed limit, especially given the rain-soaked road conditions that evening. This accident is a tragedy for all involved."