A man who was under the influence of several drugs when he caused a fatal crash in central New Jersey shore town has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
The Asbury Park Press reports that Robert Cook will have to serve nearly six years of the term imposed Friday before he become eligible for parole.
The 31-year-old Point Pleasant man had pleaded guilty last month to vehicular homicide. The charge stems from a March 2013 crash in Brick that killed 80-year-old Jane Eager.
Ocean County prosecutors have said Cook was driving in Brick when his car veered into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle in March 2013. Eager was a passenger in the other vehicle.
Authorities said Cook was under the influence of six drugs when the crash occurred. They also noted that an interlock device had been installed on his vehicle due to a previous drunken driving conviction.
Speaking at Friday's hearing, Cook's attorney, Edward Dimon, said his client was on pain medication due to injuries he had suffered in a car accident five years earlier. He said some of the drugs found in Cook's system had been prescribed for him, while others had not.
Dimon said Cook has taken responsibility for the deadly crash.
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"Drugs have grabbed hold of him," Dimon said.
