A Belford man has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and reckless driving in connection with an accident that left two pedestrians dead in Atlantic Highlands on Friday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday.

Dylan Rieger, 27, of the Belford section of Middletown, was charged of the motor vehicle violations in the collision that resulted in the deaths of John Grogan, 60, and his spouse, Barbara, 59, of Atlantic Highlands.

The Grogans were attempting to cross the intersection from the northbound direction of Route 36 and Grand Avenue at 7:50 p.m. on Friday when they were struck by a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo traveling eastbound and driven by Rieger.

Rieger was uninjured in the collision and remained on scene. 

The area around the collision was closed down for approximately 5.5 hours for the investigation. The westbound lanes were reopened at 12:45 a.m. and the area was fully reopened at approximately 1:30 a.m. 

A criminal investigation remains active at this time by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic Highlands Police Department and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART).

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to assist the investigative team is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Agent Reginald Grant at 800-533-7443, or Atlantic Highlands Police Department Sergeant Brian Phair at 732-291-1212.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office