Brick Township Crash Survivor Sentenced for Vehicular Homicide

The Brick Township woman who accepted a guilty plea to vehicular homicide related to a fatal crash in December 2012 is given a seven-year term in a New Jersey state prison.

Deborah L. Tadych, 61, was sentenced in Toms River today under terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson also ordered Tadych's driving privileges to be suspended for 10 years upon release with respect to the vehicular homicide charge, and for one year with respect to a count of driving while intoxicated.

Additionally, she was ordered to serve three years of parole supervision.

Two drivers managed to avoid contact before the December 18 head-on collision with the car driven by Susan Steeper, 65, also of Brick, on Herbertsville Road at about 6:37 PM, according to witness accounts given to investigators. She died a short time afterward at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

Tadych was involved in a hit-and-run minutes earlier, hitting a parked car as she left her driveway, police said. Her blood alcohol level was determined to be more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, police said.

Attorney William Cunningham, on Tadych's behalf, sought the seven-year term, citing her lack of a criminal record, minimal motor vehicle history and her remorse as reflected in her own writing, authorities said, adding that she apologized to Steeper's family and acknowledged in court her alcoholism and its effects on her family relations.

Prosecutors argued that Tadych drove with no lights, carried a half-consumed bottle of vodka in her purse, registered a blood alcohol level of .25, and had never sought substance abuse treatment.

Judge Hodgson found merit in arguments by both sides, finding sincerity in Tadych's remorse, noting a risk of recidivism but allowing for mitigating circumstances, adding that vehicular homicide cases are especially problematic because someone loses a life even if no intent to cause harm is present.

Tadych has been incarcerated since January 3, 2013, unable to post $50,000 bail, authorities said.