Martine Taylor, Jr. (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Prosecutors in Ocean County today charged Martine Taylor, Jr., 56, of Toms River, with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection to a fatal crash on May 13, 2025, which resulted in the death of a Matawan woman.
The investigation began after Lakewood police were contacted by the operator of a commercial tractor trailer who reported striking overhead utility wires while traveling eastbound on Cedar Bridge Avenue near the Garden State Parkway overpass at about 1:35 a.m. Responding officers located the utility disruption, and Jersey Central Power & Light was contacted to render the area safe. During the course of the investigation, officers discovered a heavily-damaged 2015 Nissan Altima located upside down in a drainage ditch adjacent to the eastbound lane of Cedar Bridge Avenue. A male occupant of the vehicle, later identified as Taylor, had to be extricated by firefighters before being taken to a hospital. Officers also located a female victim, later identified as Christine Kroliczak, 52, of Matawan, entrapped in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Kroliczak was found to be unresponsive; life-saving efforts were attempted, but she was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.
An investigation by local and county authorities revealed that the Altima had been traveling westbound on Cedar Bridge Avenue prior to the crash. The vehicle crossed the double yellow centerline and entered the eastbound lanes of travel, then exited the roadway, became airborne, and cleared the guardrail – traveling an estimated 189 feet through the air. While airborne, the vehicle struck a utility pole, resulting in severe damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage. The vehicle briefly made contact with the ground before becoming airborne again. During the second airborne phase, the vehicle struck a tree and ultimately came to an uncontrolled final rest on its roof in a drainage ditch.
Prosecutors said this week that Taylor’s driving privileges were already suspended at the time of the crash, and a blood sample was taken after police obtained a warrant. He was initially charged with causing death while driving with a suspended driver’s license and was also issued multiple motor vehicle summons. He was brought to the Ocean County Jail after being released from the hospital, but freed pursuant to New Jersey’s bail reform law a short time later.
Laboratory results of Taylor’s blood draw, received more recently, revealed that Taylor’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was allegedly .182 at the time his blood was drawn. In New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater. Additionally, prosecutors said their probe into the case revealed evidence showing Taylor was traveling between 94 and 98 m.p.h. just before the crash, with no evidence of braking. The posted speed limit on the roadway is 50 m.p.h.
Taylor, on Thursday, was taken into custody by Lakewood police at a hotel in Toms River without incident. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
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