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A Seaside Park, New Jersey, woman charged with a hit-and-run was working for the victim: the police

A Seaside Park, New Jersey, woman charged with a hit-and-run was working for the victim: the police

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SEASIDE HEIGHTS – The woman charged in a hit-and-run crash Monday night that left a popular restaurateur in critical condition worked as a waitress for the victim and had been on a bar crawl in the Seasides before the crash, authorities said with.

Genell A. Mcinaw, 50, of Seaside Park, bought four drinks less than an hour before hitting Robert S. Popovics, 75, with her car, according to the probable cause affidavit for her arrest. Mcinaw was employed at the Shady Rest Restaurant on Route 9 in the Bayville section of Berkeley, which is run by Popovics and his family.

On Monday at 9:31 p.m., Seaside Heights police responded to the intersection of Boulevard and Dupont Avenue near Klee’s Bar & Grill and discovered a body lying in the street, the affidavit states. Popovics, who had tried to cross the street, was found unconscious. He would be taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with “severe internal injuries” and a broken collarbone (shoulder). He required surgery and his condition was listed as critical.

More: Seaside Park woman charged with hit-and-run after pedestrian found unconscious in road

Minutes before surveillance cameras at Klee’s home showed Mcinaw’s sedan hitting Popovics, Mcinaw was caught on cameras at Hooks Bar & Grill in Seaside Heights getting into the vehicle and driving away, the affidavit said. She bought two beers and two “cherry bombs” between 8:40 and 9:16 p.m., the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, police went to Mcinaw’s apartment in Seaside Park to try to find her. There they found a gray Kia Forte sedan parked “in the driveway with a circular impact on the driver’s side windshield.”

When investigators spoke to Mcinaw earlier that evening and asked her where she was, she said she was at the sawmill in Seaside Park and then at Hooks, the affidavit states.

“I know…” Mcinaw told Detective Andrew Hartnett of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

“You know what?” Hartnett replied.

Mcinaw then said, “I know I ran someone over,” according to the affidavit.

At this point, Hartnett read Mcinaw her Miranda rights, which she agreed to waive; Signed a form provided by the prosecutor’s office confirming her consent to speak freely with criminal investigators without the presence of a lawyer.

Detective Joseph K. Mitchell of the District Attorney’s Office consulted with Assistant District Attorney Steve Burke about how to proceed. With Burke’s consent, Mitchell applied for a search warrant to compel Mcinaw to submit to a blood test so investigators could seize her car for examination. State Supreme Court Justice Guy P. Ryan, presiding judge for criminal cases in the Ocean County area, approved the warrant by telephone.

Mcinaw’s Forte was transported by Ocean County Vehicle Services into the custody of the Crime Scene Investigations Unit at the Sheriff’s Department. Mcinaw was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where blood was taken from her right arm at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday – enough to fill two vials. The results of the blood test were not included in the affidavit.

Hartnett again read Mcinaw her Miranda rights and the waiver she had previously signed.

Mcinaw told investigators she was at the Sawmill around 3 p.m. and had about two beers, the document said. She then had two glasses of wine and a martini at Berkeley Cut Steakhouse in Seaside Park before heading to Hooks.

“As she was leaving Hooks, Mcinaw advised her that she was driving south on the boulevard when she saw a person in front of her vehicle and struck him. She said she stopped, didn’t get out of her vehicle and drove home. Mcinaw once reported that she came home, was disheveled and fell asleep,” the affidavit states.

Shady Rest Restaurant posted about Popovics on its Facebook page Thursday, saying “Bob” was a proud Marine Corps veteran, an avid fly fisherman and a master fly tyer.

“He is devoted to his family, his friends, this restaurant and you, his customers,” the Facebook post said. “We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support we have received and ask that you continue to keep Bob and his world-class medical team in your prayers and kind thoughts. We will continue to provide updates on his condition as best we can.” We love you all.

As of Friday evening, the Facebook post had received nearly 800 comments and more than 1,700 likes.

“Bob and family, love to you, stay strong, we all love and support you!” wrote customer Richard W. Pape. “We have been breaking bread with you at Shady Rest Restaurant for well over 20 years and look forward to your speedy recovery! I love the Pape family and our Shady Peep crew.”

“I prayed continually and asked my angel in heaven for help,” wrote Christine King Gabriel. “He is the sweetest person, but underneath that sweet exterior is an extremely tough man… He will get through this. Continued positive vibes and prayers.”

“We love you Bob,” Roseann Dumarot Whisper posted. “You are truly one of the nicest people there can be and you are surrounded with love from everyone.”

Ross Purnell, longtime editor of Fly Fisherman magazine, said in an editorial posted on its website Thursday: “Bob Popovics is one of the giants of our sport. He has been a leader in the saltwater community for decades and has redefined the saltwater fly.” Through his books, magazine articles and his constant presence at fly fishing shows, he is always ready to share. That’s why several generations of animals consider him their mentor. I understand that Bob is seriously injured and has a long recovery ahead of him, but hopefully next year he will be back at the fly tying demonstration tables and running the surf line at Island Beach State Park. We look up to him and wish him all the best.

Shady Rest employees did not immediately respond to comment Friday.

Mcinaw was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury and remains incarcerated at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River this weekend.

Contact Asbury Park Press reporters Jenna Calderón at [email protected] and Erik Larsen at [email protected].

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