July 30, 2024
FREEHOLD – A fugitive has been located, arrested, and charged with being responsible for a July 2023 motor vehicle collision in Wall Township that took the life of a local man, Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso and Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran jointly announced Tuesday.
Thomas A. Redding, 45, of Howell Township is charged with second-degree Death by Auto, third-degree Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
At approximately 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023, members of the Wall Township Police Department responded to a three-vehicle collision in the area of Old Mill Road and State Route 138. At that location they found that two vehicles, a 2016 Ford Fusion operated by 55-year-old Leonard Akers of Wall Township and a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck operated by a 62-year-old male resident of Howell Township, had been fully stopped at a red light when Redding approached them from behind, operating a 2023 Toyota 4Runner.
Redding collided directly into the rear of the vehicle being driven by Akers, propelling it into the rear of the pickup truck in front of him and severely damaging both vehicles. Akers was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for medical treatment, but despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced deceased.
An investigation into this matter involving members of the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), the Prosecutor’s Office, the Wall Township Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police determined that Redding was under the influence of intoxicating substances at the time of the collision, and he was criminally charged earlier this month. He remained at large until members of the Prosecutor’s Office, Wall Township Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested him in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania early yesterday, Monday, July 29. He currently remains in custody there pending extradition to New Jersey and future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Redding is additionally charged with summonses for Speeding, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving Likely to Endanger Persons or Property, Following Too Closely, Operation of a Motor Vehicle while in Possession of Narcotics, and Driving While Intoxicated.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Cummings of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau. Information about Redding’s legal representation was not immediately available.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
