The Monmouth County man who admitted that his drunken driving triggered a fatal crash on Route 34 in Holmdel in late 2014 heads to prison for up to six years.

jailcell-300x225
loading...

Robert A. Pennington, 51, of Marlboro, is subject to New Jersey's No Early Release Act, which leaves him ineligible for parole consideration until he's servied five years and one month, according to the office of acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

Pennington pleaded guilty in January to a second-degree charge of death by auto and a driving-while-intoxicated count. He told investigators that on December 5, 2014, he drank more than seven servings of beer at a Keyport strip club before climbing into his 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan.

The crash occurred just before midnight at the highway's intersection with East Lawn Drive. Siva Kovvuri, 32, of Old Bridge's Parlin section, was headed north in a 2008 Hyundai Accent as Pennington drove south.

Pennington missed a curve, crossing over the double-yellow dividing line and hitting the Hyundai head-on. Kovvuri was pronounced dead at the scene, with what investigators said were significant head, torso, arm and leg injuries. Pennington was treated at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel.

Investigators said that Pennington's blood alcohol concentration was measured at .258 percent, more than three times the legal limit for driving in New Jersey.

More From 92.7 WOBM