Corrections Officer Gets 9 Years For Fatal Drunk Driving Crash In Old Bridge

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A Freehold man was sentenced to five years in prison for driving drunk and hitting an Old Bridge man walking on Rt. 9, killing him.

John DeTulio, 41, of Freehold Township was sentenced to the prison term on Aug. 28. He is not eligible for early release. He will also have his license suspended for nine years for causing the fatal crash.

DeTulio previously plead guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter. DeTulio worked as a senior corrections officer at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton at the time of the crash, NJ.com reported. He has since been fired.

At 1:25 a.m. January 28, 2022, DeTulio was driving a car at a high rate of speed and under the influence of alcohol on Rt. 9 near Ferry Road where he struck and killed pedestrian Harvey Berse, 69, of Old Bridge. Berse was then hit by multiple cars. He was pronounced dead at the scene.