Long Branch off-duty cop kills pedestrian in crash

LONG BRANCH - A woman was killed when she was struck by a car driven by off-duty city police officer, law enforcement officials said Saturday.

Police Detective Jake Pascucci, 28, was driving south on Ocean Boulevard when his 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee struck a woman crossing the street near the intersection of Broadway at approximately 10:15 p.m. Friday, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

The woman, identified as 60-year-old Stanhope resident Karen Borkowski, was pronounced dead at the scene approximately 20 minutes later.

The Prosecutor's Office Serious Collision Analysis Response Team is investigating the crash, spokesman Chares Webster said in an email.

It was not known Saturday if Pascucci would face any charges.

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"Due to the fact that this accident involves a police officer from the Long Branch Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is handling all aspects of this investigation, and the Long Branch Police Department is not participating in the investigation," Webster said.

Pascucci was hired in Long Branch in 2014 after three years with the police department in Oceanport, his hometown. In December 2014, Pascucci received an official commendation from the police department after he arrested a man who tried to shoot his landscaping boss before a five-hour standoff with police. He was named its officer of the month in February 2015.

In January, he was the lead investigator when a city man was arrested for allegedly targeting three teenage girls for kidnapping.

Pascucci collected a $57,478 salary in 2016, according to public records.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Detective Eric Kerecman at 800-533-7443

This is a breaking news story. Check back with APP.com for more updates as this story develops.

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com