TOMS RIVER – A Jackson man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for aggravated assault and a weapons offense following a car crash that left a 4-year-old girl in critical condition, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Charles Sharkey Jr., 35, was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the afternoon of March 23, 2023. While driving a Dodge Ram, he ran a red light at the intersection of Route 70 and Massachusetts Avenue in Toms River.
Charles Sharkey has been charged with aggravated assault, assault by auto and other crimes in a multi-vehicle crash in Toms River on March 23, 2023.
By failing to yield at the traffic light, Sharkey caused a major accident involving multiple vehicles, resulting in life-threatening injuries to Isabella Corbin, who was four at the time, and a passenger in one of the other vehicles. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the child is still recovering to this day.
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The girl’s father, Curtis Corbin, and two of his other children, Christopher and Andre — who were 7 and 10 years old, respectively — were all taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after the pickup truck crash Sharkey. drive and their family’s 2017 Subaru Impreza.
Isabella Corbin, 4, with her brothers Christopher, 7, left, and Andre, 10.
Investigation revealed Sharkey was driving erratically, on his phone and under the influence of methamphetamine. He also had a suspended driver’s license at the time of the accident and was driving a rental car that Sharkey had taken without the authorized operator’s consent.
In addition, Sharkey had been arrested in Jackson 11 days before the crash for driving under the influence and for possession of a weapon — specifically a .22-caliber handgun, all according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schron is in charge of the case.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jackson man sent to NJ jail for crash that left 4-year-old critically
