An Ocean Township police officer saw the victim on the hood as the car headed down a main drag off Route 9 about five minutes after hearing the alert just after 6:30 p.m. Monday, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and township Police Chief Gerhard Frenz said.
Marcos A. Ortega, 33, was being held on $150,000 bail on charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury and DWI.
Police firefighters and medics got Kenneth C. Moeller of Lanoka Harbor off the car, after which he was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. He was listed there in serious condition today.
“When you’re given the privilege to drive, you accept the responsibility for others,” Al Della Fave, the spokesman for Coronato, told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “The indifference to human life in this incident is beyond belief.”
Ortega was headed north on Route 9 when his car crossed into the shoulder and struck Moeller, according to a preliminary investigation by Ocean Township police and Coronato’s detectives.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahwah-Ramsey and receive free news updates.