By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on August 8, John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, was sentenced by the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C., to five years New Jersey State Prison relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Vehicular Homicide in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Plumsted Township on May 12, 2023, resulting in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated that the sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that Zinkoski will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Zinkoski pleaded guilty to the charge before Judge Fritch on April 14, Ocean County officials said. Additionally, at the time of his sentencing, Zinkoski pleaded guilty to the motor vehicle offense of Driving While Intoxicated; as a consequence, Judge Fritch suspended Zinkoski’s driving privileges for a term of seven months.
According to Ocean County officials, on May 12, 2023, at approximately 5:50 p.m., officers from the Plumsted Township Police Department responded to the area of Pinehurst Road and Long Swamp Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries.
An investigation by the Plumsted Township Police Department revealed that a Volvo XC6, operated by Ms. Smith, attempted to make a right-hand turn onto Pinehurst Road when it was struck by a Nissan Frontier, operated by Zinkoski, who was traveling southbound on Pinehurst Road, OCPO officials stated.
As a result of the crash, Ms. Smith suffered significant bodily injuries; she was subsequently transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she ultimately succumbed to those injuries, OCPO officials say. Zinkoski was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was treated for his injuries and released.
Ocean County authorities said laboratory results of an initial blood draw taken from Zinkoski at the hospital revealed that his Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at the time of the crash was in excess of the legal limit. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater.
The laboratory results revealed the presence of cocaine and benzodiazepine in Zinkoski’s blood at the time of the crash, as well, Ocean County officials said.
OCPO officials say further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Plumsted Township Police Department determined that the vehicle operated by Zinkoski was traveling at an average speed of 86 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
On August 8, 2023, a warrant was issued for Zinkoski’s arrest, and his name was entered into the National Crime Information Center database, Ocean County authorities stated. 
According to Ocean County officials, on August 22, 2023, Zinkoski surrendered himself, in the presence of his attorney, to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey's Bail Reform, OCPO officials say.