A Toms River man has been indicted on aggravated manslaughter and multiple other charges in connection with a January crash that claimed the life of a 76-year-old township resident, authorities announced Thursday.

A grand jury indicted Jamie Doyle, 40, of Toms River, on Thursday on charges of Aggravated Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Driver’s License While Involved in a Motor Vehicle Crash Causing Death.

The charges stem from a fatal collision that occurred on January 23 at approximately 8:50 p.m. at the intersection of Romana Lane and Route 37 westbound in Toms River.

Police responding to reports of a serious crash found a white Nissan Maxima and a red Chevrolet Trax, both heavily damaged. Ronald Bucher, 76, of Toms River, who was operating the Chevrolet, suffered severe injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said Doyle, who was driving the Nissan, exhibited erratic behavior, irregular speech, and constricted pupils following the crash. He was transported to Community Medical Center for treatment of a broken femur and possible head injuries.

An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Toms River Police, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Doyle was traveling westbound on Route 37 when his Nissan struck the driver’s side of Bucher’s Chevrolet as it crossed the highway from Romana Lane. Investigators said Bucher had the right of way at the time of the collision.

Witnesses told investigators that Doyle had been driving erratically and had ignored multiple traffic signals before the crash. Authorities also determined that Doyle’s driver’s license was suspended at the time.

A blood sample obtained through a court-authorized search warrant later revealed the presence of Phencyclidine (PCP) and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, in Doyle’s bloodstream, prosecutors said.

Doyle was initially charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Driver’s License While Involved in a Motor Vehicle Crash Causing Death, along with several motor vehicle violations, including Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Suspended, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, and Failure to Observe a Traffic Control Device.

Further investigation revealed that Doyle was traveling approximately 106 miles per hour five seconds before the collision and struck Bucher’s vehicle at approximately 65 miles per hour. The posted speed limit on Route 37 westbound is 50 miles per hour.

Based on those findings, prosecutors upgraded the charges to Aggravated Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide.

Following his release from the hospital, Doyle was lodged in the Ocean County Jail on January 30, where he has remained detained pending the outcome of the case.