Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Woman Charged in March Hit-And-Run

A 36-year-old woman has been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision with serious bodily injury after she allegedly struck and critically injured a 77-year-old Matawan resident in early March, leaving her on the roadside, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said on Friday.

Jennifer B. Aretino, 36, of Citation Street in Howell, in addition to the third-degree hit-and-run charge has been charged numerous related motor vehicle violations.

Aretino was charged this morning and released on a summons pending a future court date. That court date has not yet been scheduled.

The case background …

Police responded to a 6:57 p.m. report of a body in the shoulder of the roadway in front of the Mediterranean Chateau, 27 Freneau Ave., Matawan.

At the scene, police found a female victim lying in the shoulder of the northbound lane of Freneau Avenue. The victim was later identified as a 77-year-old Matawan resident. She was treated at the scene by Bayshore EMS and Hackensack Meridian ALS, then transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune Township where she remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The arrest comes after evidence collected at the scene by Matawan police officers led to the identification of the type of vehicle responsible for the incident.

On Monday, March 29, a Matawan police officer conducted a routine motor vehicle stop about 4:19 p.m. on Main Street in Matawan. Aretino was identified as the driver of the hit and run vehicle.

If convicted of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision with serious bodily injury, Arentino faces a sentence of three to five years in a New Jersey state prison.

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