Shamong Woman Charged with Driving While Impaired and Causing Fatal Collision in Medford Lakes

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Medford Lakes Police Department Chief Robert Dugan Jr. announced that a 58-year-old Shamong woman has been charged with driving while impaired and causing the death of a teenage motorist earlier this year during a head-on collision in Medford Lakes.

Theresa McElvarr was charged with Vehicular Homicide (Second Degree) and four counts of Assault by Auto (Third Degree). She was served with the warrant yesterday at her Lenape Path home, where she is convalescing from injuries received in the collision. The case against McElvarr will be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

The investigation began June 13 just after midnight when officers from the Medford Lakes Police Department were called to the area of Stokes Road and Pawnee Trail for a report of a two-vehicle collision.

The investigation revealed that McElvarr was traveling north on Stokes Road in a Hyundai Tucson when she veered into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a southbound Honda Civic with five occupants inside.

The driver of the Honda, Gianna Mastalski, 17, of Mullica Hill, was transported to Virtua Marlton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at approximately 1:45 a.m.

McElvarr and the four passengers in Mastalski’s vehicle, all of whom were 17, were transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. McElvarr and three of the teens were admitted with broken bones and other injuries.

The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Medford Lakes Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detectives Sean Tait and Kevin Merrigan, and Medford Lakes Police Officer Mark McHugh.

All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

courtesy BCPO