Toms River police say they responded to a total of 36 accidents across the municipality between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, some of which resulted in wide-spread power outages in town.
Below are some of the more serious incidents.
Friday 7/14/2023
At approximately 1:20 PM – Police, EMS, and fire units were dispatched to Hooper Avenue, in front of Intermediate East for a reported motor vehicle accident involving a utility pole with live wires on top of the vehicle, causing widespread power outages.
Callers reported a female trapped inside the vehicle with difficulty breathing. Caroline Meehan, 54 of Brick, stated that she was traveling northbound on Hooper Avenue when she had an medical episode, and blacked out prior to the collision. She was transported to Community Medical Center for treatment. JCP&L responded to repair the pole.
Approximately 1:55 PM – Police and EMS units were dispatched to the intersection of Main Street and Dayton Avenue for a reported motor vehicle accident involving a bicyclist. The initial investigation revealed Neal Wallach, 42, of Toms River, was traveling westbound on Dayton Avenue at a high rate of speed and disregarded the stop sign at the intersection of Main Street and was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Main and had the right of way at the intersection.
The collision caused Mr. Wallach’s vehicle to roll over and strike a bicyclist, pinning him under the vehicle. The bicyclist sustained serious injuries and was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center Trauma Unit for treatment. Mr. Wallach was transported to Community Medical Center. He was charged with assault by auto, and received summons for reckless driving and disregard of a stop sign. The accident remains under investigation by the Toms River Police Department Traffic Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Saturday 7/15/2023
Approximately 2:00 AM – Police units were dispatched to the intersection of Yorkshire Drive and Continental Avenue for a reported accident involving a utility pole and wires down. The initial investigation revealed Kelly Cuthbert, 25 of Toms River, was travelling westbound on Continental Drive and using her cell phone, when her vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole. Ms. Cuthbert did not sustain injuries in the crash. She was arrested for Driving while intoxicated, and received summons for DUI, careless driving, failing to maintain lane, and a cell phone violation. The accident remains under investigation.
Approximately 1:30 PM – Police, EMS, and fire units were dispatched to Inverness Drive for an active structure fire. Toms River fire companies, along with fire companies from Forked River, Bayville, and Lakewood worked together to battle the blaze. (see attached release from the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention)
“I would like to take a minute and thank all of the dispatchers, EMS, fire, Class I officers, and patrol officers. Every day they show up and give their best to our community. Some days are harder than others, and this weekend was a true testament to their dedication, professionalism, and abilities. Everyone did an outstanding job and I am very proud to work among the best of the best!” ~Chief Mitchell Little
I think that Toms River is 3 times the size of Lakewood.
Wishing all the injured a speedy recovery.
Lakewood has 13000 more people than Toms River and as you say a 3rd of the size so if lkwd has similar amount of accidents that’s not bad
Waaaaaaah!!! Lakewood PD handles that amount per shift, not a weekend. Be better TRPD
Toms River Police Say They Responded To 36 Accidents Last Weekend
“For every one of those thirty six accidents there was a lamed-vov tzadik emergency responder who helped those in need of assistance,” said a retired, hidden, senior lamed-vov tzadik official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, and who uses the pseudonim of ‘John Doe The Third’ to identify himself online..
“I would like to thank my former lamed vov colleagues for their selfless, tireless and life-saving efforts following each and everyone of those 36 accidents,” the retired senior lamed-vov tzadik wrote in an open online letter to the current crop of hidden lamed-vov tzadikim.
“Your compassionate and altruistic work is oftentimes hidden and obscured from the public eye, as you go about your work humbly and quietly, without fanfare and with very little publicity, if any,” he wrote, “and that is typical of the hidden lamed-vov tzadikim community.”
“Thank you for you valiant work on behalf of those in need of assistance in the aftermath of those 36 accidents,” he wrote to the לו hidden tzadikim. “Your reward is great and beyond human comprehension. Sincerely yours, a former colleague of yours, Retired, Hidden Lamed-Vov Tzadik, John Doe The Third.”