Deborah Barone dies in fatal Toms River car crash

Deborah Barone dies in fatal Toms River car crash

Fatal Toms River car crash death of Deborah Barone – Obituary

Deborah Barone, 59, tragically lost her life in a high-speed hit-and-run collision on Route 37 in Toms River on May 24, authorities reported. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the crash was caused by 18-year-old Abel Mathukutty of Lake Hiawatha, who was operating his vehicle at 76 mph in a 50 mph zone.

Officials stated that Mathukutty struck the driver’s side of a Mercedes sedan while driving an Infiniti. The force of the impact caused the Mercedes to veer into a utility pole. After the collision, Mathukutty fled the scene by crossing the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge into Seaside Heights.

Deborah Barone, who had been driving the Mercedes, and her husband, 64-year-old Michael Barone, both sustained serious injuries. They were rushed to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where Deborah later died from her injuries. Michael Barone was later transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and has since been discharged.

Following a regional alert describing the suspect vehicle, police in Seaside Park stopped an Infiniti that matched the details and showed significant damage. The airbags had deployed, confirming its involvement in the crash. Mathukutty was taken into custody without any resistance and booked into the Ocean County Jail. Although he was initially held, jail records show he has since been released. Additional charges were formally delivered to him at the Toms River Police Department.

Mathukutty now faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide and assault by auto, in connection with the fatal incident.