Joseph Natale, right, was killed in the crash. His son, Toby, (on left) required surgery.
An Egg Harbor Township woman is in jail after a two-month investigation into a crash that killed a Somers Point man.
Oriel Dixon, 38, was under the influence Dec. 16, when she was driving north on Blackman Road in the township and went into oncoming traffic, according to the charges.
She struck a car driven by Joseph Natale, who was heading south.
Natale, 72, was taken to Shore Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
His son, 28-year-old Tobias Natale, was in the front seat. He was hospitalized for his injuries, and underwent surgery on his pelvis, according to a GoFundMe set up for "Toby."
Dixon had a juvenile boy in her vehicle at the time.
She was issued citations for driving under the influence, reckless driving and careless driving.
An investigation by Officers Robert Moran and Kevin Brady, and Sgt. Edward Stearns, led to criminal charges filed Friday of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree child endangerment.
Dixon was arrested Saturday morning, and is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a hearing.
Dixon herself was in a crash in 2023, in which the other driver was drunk, according to a still-active GoFundMe set up for her at that time by her sister.
The single mom of four "was tragically struck on December 22nd at 7:30 pm by a drunk driver on her way to finish last minute Christmas shopping for her kids," Tiffany Ping wrote.
She said her sister had to undergo emergency "surgery for major internal bleeding of the liver."
