A Mays Landing man with a history of driving under the influence pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run that killed an Atlantic County mother last year.
Fabian Lucas, 38, was set to go on trial Monday, but instead admitted to leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in death. He faces between five and 10 years in prison.
Lucas admitted he struck Jodi Lynn Milhan as she walked eastbound on Route 30 at about 11:30 p.m. March 1, 2023.
The 49-year-old mother of two was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Police were able to track Lucas through the automated license plate reader system that showed a 2012 Nissan Altima passing through the area at the time of the crash, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The same vehicle was captured on the system westbound leaving Atlantic City after 1 a.m. th next morning, the affidavit states.
Police put out a photo of the vehicle at the time.
But it was a search of the vehicle's history through CarFax that found Lucas' telephone number that he gave to the courts in a 2021 crash involving the same vehicle.
In that May 23, 2021, crash in Millville, Lucas was found guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, court records show. He also faced charges that included failure to install an interlock device, which is often a requirement of those with prior drunken-driving convictions.
He had a previous case in 2018 out of Galloway Township, and a 2014 case out of Absecon, where he also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury, according to court records.
An investigation into last year's fatal crash found that Lucas planned to turn the vehicle over to American Recycling on Route 50 in Mays Landing to dispose of the vehicle after the VIN was defaced and various parts of the damage were removed, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
It does not appear he was ever charged with tampering or hindering.
He was arrested in April, and told investigators that he believed he struck a roadway sign or piece of metal, the affidavit states. He admitted he did not report the crash.
Lucas also incurred a charge while in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, courts show.
He was charged with possession of a weapon during a search of his cell May 16, according to the affidavit in that case. The weapon is described as a pen cap with a sharpened piece of metal attached to a pencil, which was found in his bunk.
Lucas was also charged with refusal to submit to fingerprints at that time.
Jodi Milhan Milhan left behind a son, daughter and grandson, according to her obituary, which put her residence in Atlantic City. Friends previously told BreakingAC she was from Northfield. The Prosecutor's Office listed her residence as Pleasantville.
Lucas’ sentencing is scheduled for January 2025 before Judge Dorothy Garrabrant.
He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
