Seaside Park Woman, 50, Charged With Vehicular Homicide, Leaving Accident Scene

Genell Mcinaw (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A Seaside Park woman has been charged in the death of a 75-year-old fellow resident, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday, with authorities alleging she was driving with more than double the legal limit of alcohol in her system.

Genell Mcinaw, 50, was charged with vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, and knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Seaside Heights on Sept. 23, 2024, resulting in the death of Robert Popovics, 75.

Seaside Heights police were called to the area of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 for a report of a man lying in the roadway. Responding officers discovered Popovics lying unconscious in the roadway with “apparent serious bodily injuries,” prosecutors said in a statement. Popovics was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for treatment of his injuries.

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On Nov. 1, 2024, Popovics succumbed to his injuries as a result of the September crash, and was pronounced deceased at Jersey Shore. Mcinaw was charged with vehicular homicide Monday and surrendered herself to police Tuesday.

A joint investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Seaside Heights police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, determined that a dark-colored sedan was traveling south on the Boulevard when it struck Popovics and fled the area. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was being operated by Mcinaw at the time of the crash. She was taken into custody by county detectives at her residence without incident, and initially charged with knowingly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in bodily harm.

Mcinaw was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where a draw of her blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. She was later transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Laboratory results of Mcinaw’s blood draw, determined that her Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at the time of the crash was .187, according to prosecutors. In New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater.

After the charges were upgraded and Mcinaw surrendered herself to authorities at Seaside Heights police headquarters, she was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.