Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office
MAYS LANDING Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April is a very important time of year for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Crash Investigations Unit and Atlantic County Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson.
From 2018-2022, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Crash Investigations Unit investigated 156 motor vehicle crashes that resulted in a total of 166 fatalities. According to data from the New Jersey State Police Crash Investigations Unit from 2018-2022, statewide there were 2,426 motor vehicle crashes that resulted in 2,573 fatalities.
As the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents have steadily increased over the last four years, Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson and the investigative members of the Crash Investigations Unit have been dedicated in the pursuit of justice for the victims in these cases. I am proud of the work that this unit carries out to assist in preserving safety on our roadways for those living or visiting Atlantic County, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill said in a release.
Robinson serves as the attorney overseeing all fatal accident investigations for the ACPO Crash Investigations Unit. Representing the voices of crime victims is a huge responsibility that is not taken lightly and one that she is honored to serve.
One of the roles of a homicide prosecutor is to work alongside very skilled detectives to provide legal guidance throughout the entire investigation. I always knew that I wanted to participate in these complex and challenging cases. The work is difficult but, in the end, incredibly rewarding, she said.
Robinson is a 2010 graduate of Widener University School of Law, has served in the ACPO Crash Investigation Unit since 2019 and with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office since 2013.
The cases she prosecutes leave a lasting impression that she will never forget. One of those cases involved a fatal accident on Pitney Road in Absecon on the night of Dec. 19, 2018 that took the life of 36-year-old Suzana Kocick of Galloway Township.
Suzana Kocick, a mother and successful employee within the Atlantic City hospitality industry, was killed days before her birthday and Christmas when an impaired driver, who was also a young mother, struck her vehicle head-on.
The impact occurred in a designated school zone within 1,000 feet of the H. Ashton Marsh Elementary School. Kocick was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the other driver, Kaitlyn Hayes, 24, of Pleasantville, was transported to an area hospital for treatment. An investigation determined that Hayes' 2017 Ford Expedition vehicle was traveling at a speed of 106 miles-per-hour in the 2 seconds before the crash, and 104 miles-per-hour at impact. Toxicology tests revealed Hayes' blood was positive for marijuana. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison with no early release.
I will never forget the conversations I had with Suzana's family members, Robinson said. They shared stories about her life and about how her daughters have begun to cope with the tragic loss of their mother. As a wife and mother, I cannot help but think of my own family when doing this job. My hope is that though the aggressive prosecution of these entirely preventable cases we will send a strong message in Atlantic County to deter distracted and impaired driving.
ACPO Chief of County Investigators Bruce DeShields said the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Crash Investigations Unit is committed to investigating fatal accidents in the county and making sure that motorists and pedestrians alike are safe.
The Crash Investigations Unit works with municipal police departments to conduct numerous DWI checkpoints and patrols every year throughout Atlantic County.
Atlantic County Law enforcement is responsible for the safety of a significant year-round and seasonal tourist population that travel on our roadways. The Crash Investigations Unit is committed to using best practices when investigating accidents on Atlantic County's roadways and advocating for the safety of all motorists, passengers and pedestrians, DeShields said.
