Man gets prison sentence in wake of fatal accident

On Sept. 29, William Hand, 46, of Beachwood, was sentenced to eight years in state prison in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash in Howell and burglary of a residence in Manalapan, both occurring April 27, 2005.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Hand must serve six years, nine months and 22 days before being eligible for parole as a result of the sentence imposed by state Superior Court Judge Patricia DelBueno Cleary, sitting in Freehold.

According to the press release, the case involved a three-vehicle collision that occurred on Route 33 in the area of Yellowbrook Road at 7:56 p.m. The investigation revealed that Hand was operating a 2001 Mercury Sable heading west on Route 33. Hand's vehicle crossed the double-yellow line into oncoming traffic heading eastbound on Route 33, sideswiping a 1987 Dodge pickup truck being operated by a 43-year-old Howell resident, before colliding head-on with a Ford Windstar minivan being operated by Judith Alexander, 56, of Neptune Township.

As a result of the collision, Alexander sustained extensive injuries and was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore Uni-versity Medical Center, Neptune, at 8:52 p.m. The Howell man, as well as Hand's wife, who was a passenger in the Mer-cury Sable, were not injured in the crash. At the time of the collision, the conditions were clear, and the road surface was wet, because it had recently rained. Blood drawn from Hand revealed the presence of cocaine, methadone and other drugs in his system, according to the prosecutor's office.

Earlier in the day, according to the press release, Hand unlawfully entered a residence belonging to a physician in Manalapan after disabling an alarm system, and stole a safe containing jewelry and cash. As a result of this investigation, the safe and its contents, valued in excess of $75,000, were recovered.

Hand pleaded guilty before Cleary on June 30 to vehicular homicide, a second-degree crime, and driving while intoxicated, as well as burglary, a third-degree crime, and theft of movable property, a second-degree offense. This plea was approved by the family of the defendant, according to the press release.

Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin credited the Howell Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and its Serious Collision Analysis Response Team for their thorough investigation of this incident.

Valentin said, "This senseless and tragic situation was completely avoidable. Mr. Hand's actions of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a combination of both illegal and legal narcotics reveals the horrible consequences of such conduct. This sentence serves as a reminder of the harsh reality of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of controlled dangerous substances."