Authorities seek public’s help in locating Toms River hit-and-run vehicle

     This depicts a blue Jeep Wrangler (left) and contains the actual vehicle part and shows where the piece fits onto the vehicle (right) that authorities say struck and killed a 27-year-old man on Route 37 in Toms River earlier this  month. (Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

    This depicts a blue Jeep Wrangler (left) and contains the actual vehicle part and shows where the piece fits onto the vehicle (right) that authorities say struck and killed a 27-year-old man on Route 37 in Toms River earlier this month. (Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

    Authorities have released information about the vehicle that they say was involved in fatal hit-and-run in Toms River earlier this month.

    Jeffrey Michel, 27, of Colts Neck, was struck and killed on Route 37 westbound near Fischer Boulevard on Friday, March 6 at 8:20 p.m.

    Investigators found a piece of blue debris at the scene and matched it to the bottom right corner of a two-door Jeep Wrangler passanger’s side front grille where the fender meets the grille, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

    The blue color was used on the 2013, 2014, or 2015 Jeep Wrangler (Part #68046306AB), Della Fave added.

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    The photo above depicts a blue Jeep Wrangler (left) and contains the actual vehicle part and shows where the piece fits onto the vehicle (right). 

    Authorities ask that anyone with information regarding a 2010 or newer blue Jeep Wrangler with front-end damage on the passenger side, or know of anyone who has recently replaced or repaired a grille matching the above description, to please contact Det. Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 232-7240 or Traffic Safety Officer Ken Thomas of the Toms River Police Department at (732) 349-0150 x1314.

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