Crime & Safety
Tinton Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Little Silver Principal
Dennis Smentkowski admitted he had taken four times the recommended dosage of Ambien that caused his car to drift out of his lane and collide with an oncoming vehicle three years ago.
A Tinton Falls man plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday to the death of a Little Silver school principal who was killed while driving to school three years ago, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.
Dennis Smentkowski, 46, admitted he had taken four times the recommended dosage of Ambien that caused him to drift from his lane while driving down Oceanport Avenue on the morning of May 6, 2008 and collide with the vehicle driven by Donald Merce, the former principal of in Little Silver, who was killed instantly, according to the article by Dustin Racioppi.
Smentkowski plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years.
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