Driver told police he believed he hilt a deer, authorities said
SOUTH TOMS RIVER -- An elderly motorist who said he did not realize he struck and critically injured a bicyclist early Friday turned himself in to police a few hours later, authorities said.
Police responded to the entrance of the northbound Garden State Parkway at Dover Road shortly before 4 a.m. on a report of a pedestrian struck. The 48-year-old victim, a local resident, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center wirth head, pelvis and ankle injuries. She was in surgery Friday and was listed in critical but stable condition.
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Local and Toms River police, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the sheriff's department, conducted an investigation, using serial numbers from parts found on the roadway to determine that the vehicle involved appeared to be a Ford Aerostar with a model year between 1992 and 1997.
Shortly before 8 a.m., a local resident, Antonio S. Rodrigues, 85, showed up at police headquarters after learning of the accident. Rodrigues told police he had been driving to the Rt. 70 Flea Market in Lakewood when he heard a "boom," authorities said. Thinking it was a deer, Rodrigues continued on to the flea market and was setting up his stall when he learned someone had been struck. He packed up his stall, drove home and walked to the police department.
Rodrigues, who consented to a blood test, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and his license and registration are valid, authorities said. His 1995 Ford Aerostar was towed to the sheriff's department garage and will be searched pending the issuance of a warrant.
Rodrigues has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
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