Manchester Man Indicted in Parkway Crash That Killed Ocean Gate Cop

A Manchester Township man remains free on $250,000 bail after being indicted for vehicular homicide in the   on the Garden State Parkway that claimed the life of an off-duty Ocean Gate police officer.

Erick P. Uzcategui, 32, of Eleventh Avenue in the Pine Lake Park section, is accused by an  of driving his new BMW sports utility vehicle recklessly, causing the death of Patrolman Jason Marles.

Police said Uzcategui rear-ended the car Marles was driving north on the parkway in Toms River to get to his home in Point Pleasant Beach. The impact caused Marles’ Jeep to slam into a guardrail, run off the road, and burst into flames, killing the lawman who had just worked two consecutive shifts in Ocean Gate. The incident was near mile  on the parkway.

Ironically, his assignment was to look for drunk drivers. Police said Uzcategui was drunk at the time of the crash. Assistant Prosecutor Steven N. Cucci said he admitted having five vodka drinks and using cocaine at a motel in Seaside Heights.

Uzcategui was arrested at the scene. Additional passengers in Uzcategui's vehicle have not been charged.

The grand jury also charged Uzcategui with having the steroid Oxandrolone at the time of the crash.

The vehicular homicide charge, a second-degree offense, carries a potential state prison sentence of 5-10 years. The possession of a controlled dangerous substance charge has a maximum sentence of 5 years, a third-degree offense.

Uzcategui is also charged with driving under the influence. Cucci said no other charges were made against Uzcategui or his four passengers.

Marles, a former Berkeley resident and Central Regional graduate, was the father of two: daughter Taryn, age 5, and son Landon, age 4. A 9-year member of the police force, he lived in Point Pleasant Beach with wife Ginny.