A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Toms River this morning, police say.
At approximately 5:45 AM, police units were dispatched to the area of Route 37 E and Marian Street, in reference to a male party wandering in the street in the westbound lanes. Moments later dispatch received another call that a pedestrian was struck in the eastbound lanes of Route 37. Upon the officers arrival, they located the pedestrian deceased in the shoulder of Route 37 E, eastbound, and the involved vehicle in the parking lot of Pine Belt Nissan.
The initial investigation revealed that pedestrian, Joseph L. Witty Jr. 39 of Toms River, was walking south across Route 37E and was nearly struck by passing vehicles in the westbound lanes. As he continued over the median and back onto the highway he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The driver was traveling eastbound in the right lane of Route 37 E. Evidence on scene indicated that Mr. Witty was in the travel lane when he was struck, and not in a crosswalk, or on the shoulder. There was no indication of cell phone use or impairment by the driver at the time of the crash.
The accident is under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Adam Koeppen. Also assisting on scene was the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the New Jersey State DOT Diversion Team. There are no charges against the driver.
how tragic! maybe if Toms River would also give food boxes and vouchers to help the less capable among their population- because anyways there are plenty of very fortunate residents in that city- then maybe the poor and the downtrodden would have a warm shelter to come home and stay home at night and would be spared any outdoor mishap.
Very sad. For some reason, too many people think they can make it across the very wide lanes of Route 37, which has a divider along most of the route and there is a steady report of someone getting hit what seems like every few months. Maybe its once a year, but that’s also once too much.