A Pleasantville man under the influence of multiple drugs when he fatally struck a pedestrian in Egg Harbor Township was sentenced to eight years in prison this week.
Michael Doyle, 32, had a 2-year-old child and another passenger in his car when he went through a red light at the Black Horse Pike and English Creek Avenue at about 8:25 a.m. Sept. 27, 2021.
Anthony Swezeny, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, was killed.
Doyle then hit a van driven by Joseph Avellino, also of the township.
Swezeny was described by family as a “gentle giant” who loved music, spending time with friends and family, and making children smile as the “Magic Man” at the local Outback Steakhouse.
Toxicology results showed Doyle was under the influence of multiple narcotics, including fentanyl, morphine, alprazolam, methadone, codeine and THC at the time of the crash.
He was convicted of vehicular homicide and must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or 6.8 years.
Doyle was also sentenced to five years for child endangerment, which is concurrent, so it does not add to his overall time.
Fatal motor vehicle accidents have increased significantly since 202, according to data from the N.J. State Police Crash Investigations Unit. There were 550 in 2020, with 668 last year. So far this year, there have been 492.
Atlantic County has seen 29, so far this year, with a total of 47 last year and 42 in 2020.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to aggressive prosecution of crimes like vehicular homicide, Reynolds said.
“An accident that takes a person’s life is a tragedy,” Reynolds said. “In this case a tragedy that could have been avoided if the defendant did not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Nothing will bring back the victim, but we will continue to work to deter others from making this same mistake and continue to protect our citizens of Atlantic County.”
