Manasquan Woman Was High When She Caused Fatal Crash, Prosecutor Alleges

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Manasquan woman was driving high under the influence of marijuana when she ran a red light and caused a three-car collision that killed one woman and injured another earlier this year, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago and Wall Police Chief Sean O’Halloran said Wednesday.

Tamra G. Lawlor, 23, of Manasquan is charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and fourth-degree assault by auto.

The Monmouth County prosecutor says Lawlor was driving her Subaru Crosstrek under the influence of marijuana when she ran a red light on Rt. 70 in Wall Twp. and collided with other cars.

Eileen Ziesmer, 58, a grandmother who lived in Brick, was killed in the crash.

Lawlor was charged earlier this week and she surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday. She is currently being held in the Monmouth County jail pending an upcoming appearance in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Previously, she was also charged with the traffic offenses of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and possession of open unsealed marijuana in a motor vehicle in relation to this crash.

The fatal crash occurred at 5:20 p.m. March 5 at Rt. 70 and Morningstar Road. The three vehicles involved in the collision were a Subaru Crosstrek driven by Lawlor, a Toyota Camry driven by Ziesmer and a Nissan Armada driven by a 51-year-old Brick woman, unnamed.

Ziesmer was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased.

Lawlor and the third driver were also taken to local medical facilities for non-life-threatening injuries.

Lawlor is represented by Mitchell Ansell, a well-known Jersey Shore criminal defense lawyer.