Leonardo Man Indicted For Role In Rt. 36 Crash That Injured Two Motorcyclists

A grand jury in Freehold has returned an indictment charging a Leonardo man on two counts of assault by auto for his involvement in an accident on Route 36 that left two motorcyclists with serious injuries.

Thomas Phillips of Ocean Avenue in Leonardo is alleged to have been driving while intoxicated on Oct. 16, 2011 when his car struck two motorcycles stopped for a red light at Thompson Avenue and Route 36, in the westbound lanes, around 12:45 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. 

The motorcyclists were taken to the hospital trauma centers, one by medevac, for treatment of serious injuries.  Phillips was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

An indictment is a formal charge and not a conviction. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

According to NJ Motor Vehicle Commission records, Phillips' license has been suspended 32 times for a variety of offenses over the years, including two DUIs. Prior to the accident, his most recent violations in 2011 were related to an address change in August and failure to wear a seat belt in February. 

He is currently a driver in good standing, according to the MVC.