LONG BRANCH, NJ (MONMOUTH)–The latest published study by Monmouth Medical Center physicians showcasing landmark COVID-19 research compares the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and disease severity of the second wave of COVID-19 with the first wave in the United States.
The manuscript titled “Variation in Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Mortality of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 during the Second Wave of the Pandemic: a Single-Center Experience” was published in the September 2021 issue of Journal of Investigative Medicine. It is the third COVID-19 research study conducted by MMC’s Department of Medicine to be published in a national medical journal.
The latest manuscript comes from Kenneth M. Granet, MD, FACP, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer and Immediate Past Chairman of the Department of Medicine; Dean Patton, MD, Medical Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Critical Care medicine; and Internal Medicine resident physicians Mohsin Sheraz Mughalan, Ikwinder Preet Kaur, Reem Alhashemi, and Alvin Buemio, and Chang Wang from the Department of Medicine, Rutgers University. In their single-center study, the clinicians also investigated and compared clinical outcomes and in-hospital mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic and compared it with that of the first wave.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study in the USA that compares hospitalized patients with COVID-19 between the first and second waves of the pandemic,” said Dr. Granet, one of the lead contributors to the study. “We found that inpatient mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was higher during the first wave at 15.5% vs 5.9% during the second wave. However, even though the mortality rate is lower, it is important to adhere to public health measures to limit community spread to end this pandemic.”
“This new published study is yet another example of the important COVID-19 research efforts being conducted at Monmouth Medical Center,” says Eric Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer, MMC and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. “We commend these Monmouth Medical Center physicians for their important contribution to the critical research that is needed to safely and effectively combat the COVID-19 virus.”
The study comes on the heels of two other COVID-19 studies conducted by the MMC Department of Medicine, including a groundbreaking study examining the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among healthcare professionals working in intensive care units and another that looked at ventilator-dependent acute hypoxic respiratory failure (VDAHRF) – which is associated with a higher mortality rate – in a hospital setting.
Pictured from left are Kenneth M. Granet, MD, FACP, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer and Immediate Past Chairman of the Department of Medicine; Dean Patton, MD, Medical Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Critical Care Medicine; and Internal Medicine resident physicians Reem Alhashemi, Ikwinder Preet Kaur, and Mohsin Sheraz Mughalan.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Amazon continues to provide diverse employment opportunities for people of all backgrounds and skill levels, announcing today 150,000 seasonal jobs are now available across the U.S. including 5,500 in New Jersey.
All Amazon jobs in the U.S., including seasonal roles, have an average starting pay of $18 per hour, sign-on bonuses up to $3,000 and an additional $3 per hour depending on shifts in many locations. Today’s seasonal roles come in addition to the 8,700 full and part-time Operations jobs announced for New Jersey previously.
“We are proud to be offering a huge range of full-time, part-time, and now seasonal jobs with great pay and benefits,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Fulfillment. “Our seasonal hiring helps us deliver on our promises to customers while also providing flexibility to our full-time employees during busy periods. Joining Amazon in one of our seasonal roles offers high-paying, part-time work, or a path to a full-time position, with benefits like our Career Choice program to help people advance their education and careers within Amazon or beyond.”
Amazon values its seasonal employees, many of whom return each holiday season year-after-year or choose to transition to full-time roles within the company. Seasonal employees are essential to how Amazon delivers for customers, doing important, rewarding work, while earning income flexibility before the end of the year.
Nearly four years ago, I started a trial run with Amazon as a seasonal employee. Since then, I have been promoted four times and I am now charged with helping staff Amazon’s facilities across the Delaware Valley,” said Andrea Wilkerson, Staffing Coordinator for Amazon. “I can say from experience that the array of positions Amazon offers, coupled with a flexible work schedule, ensures the company can meet the needs of any employee. This includes those who are looking to rejoin the workforce, or start a new career with advancement opportunities, or just to earn some extra money over the holiday season.”
Jobs in Amazon’s operations network include stowing, picking, packing, shipping and more. New hires will be fully trained and all facilities follow strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols. A job with Amazon can be the start of a future, long-term career inside or outside of the company. Jobs are available in hundreds of cities and towns across America. Interested candidates can see all the regions with open positions at http://www.amazon.com/apply.
Amazon was recently named by LinkedIn as the No. 1 company where Americans want to work and develop their careers. Job advancement and career building is an important focus for the company, and many employees who have been with the company six months or longer have been promoted. Seasonal employees will help support full-time employees across over 250 new fulfillment centers, sortation centers, regional air hubs, and delivery stations that opened in the U.S. in 2021.
States with the greatest number of seasonal roles include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
In New Jersey, more than 5,500 seasonal positions are available across Amazon operations.
Seasonal employees receive an average starting pay of $18 per hour, sign-on bonuses and an additional $3 per hour depending on shifts in many locations. They are great for people of all skill levels looking for flexibility, variety, extra income during the holidays, and a path to long-term career opportunities. Interested candidates can learn more at amazon.com/apply.
BARNEGAT, NJ (OCEAN)–Community Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and Ocean Women’s Health Care Group, PA, a practice of the Combined Medical Group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health, held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday October 12th to celebrate the official opening of the new healthcare hub located at 770 Lighthouse Drive, in Barnegat, N.J. While the medical practice opened earlier this year, the ceremony marks the enhancement and expansion of the location’s services to include a new, state-of-the-art lab and women’s imaging center in the same shopping complex. Representatives from Community Medical Center and Ocean Women’s Healthcare Group and local officials were in attendance to mark the milestone expanding convenient access to women’s health services in Ocean County.
The newly opened lab and women’s imaging services offers a range of services including outpatient laboratory services, 3D mammography, screening ultrasounds, general ultrasounds for female patients, and DEXA scans for bone density testing. The Community Medical Center Lab and Women’s Imaging Center will open on October 26 and appointments can be scheduled by calling 848.208.6203.
Additionally, Ocean Women’s Health Care Group, PA, which opened its doors in July offers a full range of gynecologic services for women of all ages – from adolescence through menopause and beyond. Along with providing preventative care through annual health screenings, the comprehensive OBGYN care team of leading women’s health specialists including Lauren Mason Cederberg, MD; James McDermott, DO; Amadi Rezai, MD and Anupama Sunkavalli, MD provide treatment for a wide range of gynecological conditions including infertility, urinary incontinence treatment, pelvic pain and minimally invasive alternatives to surgery. As part of the Combined Medical Group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health, Ocean Women’s Health Care Group providers in Barnegat accept most major insurances. To learn more or schedule an appointment for OBGYN services, please call 609.978.9870.
“We are excited to mark the official opening of our newest outpatient location in Barnegat, which expands access to critical women’s health and wellness services by bringing them directly to the community,” said Patrick Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer, Community Medical Center. “Both Community Medical Center and the Combined Medical Group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health have a shared mission of providing our patients with world-class care and the opening of this new state-of-the art hub further reinforces that commitment.”
“We are dedicated to providing greater access to high quality healthcare in all communities across our state and the opening and expansion of this new specialty care location in Barnegat is illustrative of that commitment in action,” said Andy Anderson, President and CEO, Combined Medical Group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health.
Community Medical Center, Combined Medical Group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health physicians, and local government representatives took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Barnegat Hub location for the hospital’s outpatient services and medical group office.
The Latest “Cash for Guns” Event is the Largest One-Day Participation Ever Held in New Jersey with Simultaneous Buybacks Held in Conjunction with 9 Counties
October 18, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck today announced further details and locations for gun buyback events that will be held on October 23 with the help of Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Salem, Somerset, and Union counties. This is the largest one-day participation gun buyback ever held in New Jersey with 9 counties participating and holding events simultaneously. Middlesex and Somerset counties are hosting an event together and Salem county is participating for the first time.
Acting Attorney General Bruck announced that the state- and locally-sponsored “Guns for Cash” events will be held on Saturday, October 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at:
Bergen County
St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church
55 West Demarest Avenue, Englewood
In partnership with Prosecutor Mark Musella
Camden County
Antioch Baptist Church
690 Ferry Avenue, Camden
In partnership with Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer
Cumberland County
Alms Center
1 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Bridgeton
In partnership with Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae
Mercer County
Friendship Baptist Church
111 Perry Street, Trenton
In partnership with Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri
Middlesex/Somerset Counties
First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens
771 Somerset Street, Somerset
In partnership with Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson and Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone
Monmouth County
Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park
124 Atkins Avenue, Asbury Park
In partnership with Prosecutor Lori Linskey
(This location will open at 8:30 a.m.)
Salem County
Carneys Point Fire Department
258 D Street, Carneys Point
In partnership with Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey
Union County
In Partnership with Prosecutor William Daniel
(The following locations will open at 9:00 a.m.)
Master’s Table Christian Fellowship (Triumphant Life Church)
207-211 Bond Street, Elizabeth
Shiloh Baptist Church Community Center
Corner of W 5th Street and Liberty Street, Plainfield
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church
506 Westfield Avenue, Westfield
Residents can turn in firearms with “no questions asked,” and will receive as much as $250 per weapon for up to three guns. Police officers will be stationed at each buyback location to collect and secure the guns. The gun buyback initiative is funded with forfeiture dollars obtained by the local police departments and County Prosecutors’ Offices, as well as forfeiture funds from the Division of Criminal Justice.
“The gun buyback events we organized this August proved so popular that we decided to host a second round this fall,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to reduce gun violence, and this expanded program will help us achieve that goal. I’m especially grateful to our County Prosecutors and their community partners for taking the lead on this important project.”
“We are committed to reducing gun violence across the state and this initiative is another step toward making our communities safer,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Fewer firearms in the wrong hands will lead to less violence in our neighborhoods and this program will play a huge role in protecting our cities and saving lives.”
“When we reduce the number of firearms in circulation, we reduce the amount of violence in our communities,” said Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The gun buyback program is a collaborative effort across all law enforcement that demonstrates how effective it is when we work together.”
Statements of support from local leaders:
“Thank you to Governor Murphy and Attorney General Bruck for dedicating resources toward this important public safety issue and for partnering with Bergen County law enforcement,” said Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. “This initiative accomplishes the twin goals of raising awareness of the need for gun safety and getting unwanted guns out of households.”
“Initiatives like the gun buyback program are an effective means of combatting senseless acts of gun violence,” said Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer. “Too often, we have seen a gun in a home fall into the wrong hands, only to be used later in a violent crime – or even worse – fall into the hands of a child. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to work with the Attorney General and our local law enforcement partners to help make our county and our state a safer place to live.”
“I, in conjunction with the Cumberland County Municipal Chiefs and Sheriff, am excited to host this Gun Buy Back even,” said Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. “Giving the public a way to safely dispose of unwanted guns assures that they don’t fall into the wrong hands. We remain committed to promoting strategies that improve public safety for all Cumberland County residents.”
“There are too many guns on our streets. Last year, the city of Trenton and Mercer County experienced a historic number of homicides and almost all involved guns,” said Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. “We realize that buybacks alone won’t put a stop to gun violence, but they are a valuable opportunity to make our communities safer and I am grateful to Governor Murphy and Acting Attorney General Bruck for their support.”
“The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is honored to partner with Somerset County law enforcement and local community leaders in working towards reduced gun violence and deaths,” said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone.
“The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with our law enforcement and community partners, believe that removing illegal and unwanted guns from our streets makes our residents safer,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey. “The force-multiplier of having multiple gun buybacks taking place simultaneously across our state demonstrates the commitment that Attorney General Bruck and our County Prosecutors have in making a tangible difference.”
“The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office is excited to participate in this opportunity to partner directly with our citizens to take illegal and unwanted guns off the street immediately,” said Salem County Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey. “Together with our local municipal police departments and the Salem County Sheriff’s Office, this initiative demonstrates our commitment to preventing gun violence and improving safety.”
“We welcome the opportunity to participate in the gun buyback program with our law enforcement partners throughout the State,” said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. “Reducing the amount of firearms that could potentially cause violence in our communities is a top priority for all of us and we will continue to participate in initiatives that make our neighborhoods safer.”
“Gun buyback programs are an important opportunity for the community and law enforcement to collaborate on an initiative to reduce violent crime,” said Union County Prosecutor William Daniel. “We encourage Union County residents to participate in the gun amnesty program on October 23rd and decrease the number of unwanted firearms in their communities.”
The October 23 gun buyback initiative is also being promoted through social media, local advertising, and through community and faith-based outreach.
The previous “Guns for Cash” events held in Atlantic City, East Orange, Newark, and two locations in Paterson yielded 941 firearms. Residents turned in 487 handguns, 281 rifles and shotguns, 27 assault weapons and 146 inoperable firearms and BB/pellet guns at state-and locally-sponsored gun buybacks on August 7. Each of the gun buybacks represented a collaboration between law enforcement and community stakeholders, who promoted and assisted with the six-hour events.
In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy and Acting AG Bruck are leading a comprehensive, statewide effort to reduce gun deaths, which pairs the latest evidence-based policing strategies with innovative, community-based prevention programs. The three-pronged approach to tackling this public health crisis includes addressing the root causes of violence; keeping guns away from those most likely to harm others; and taking swift action against those who break the law.
Residents with questions about the buyback effort can call the Attorney General’s Office of Constituent Services at (609) 984-5828 or visit www.njoag.gov/gunbuyback
AG Bruck at August 2021 Press Conference on Paterson Gun Buy Back. AG Photo
Brings Depth of Experience in Academic Medicine and Customer Service
October 18, 2021
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has named Alan Lee as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
A proven leader and expert in driving clinical excellence across integrated health care systems, Mr. Lee will draw on his experience at nationally distinguished academic medical centers and at internationally renowned hospitality brands to advance care at New Jersey’s largest academic medical center.
In his new role, Mr. Lee is responsible for aligning hospital operations with the RWJUH mission of delivering world-class patient care at the highest standards of clinical quality, performance and patient experience. As COO, he is charged with fostering new collaborations among Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty physicians, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group physicians and community physicians that contribute to clinical innovation and that promote groundbreaking research.
“We’re excited to welcome Mr. Lee to our team at RWJUH,” said Bill Arnold, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJUH. “As we work to strengthen RWJUH’s position as a premier academic medical center in our state and region, Mr. Lee brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as an administrative leader. He has a proven track record of leading teams known for exceptional quality, outcomes, patient experience and research programs. We are confident that his expertise will prove invaluable to RWJUH as we enter this phase of expansion and transformation.”
RWJUH Board of Directors Chair Jack Morris adds, “Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has demonstrated a strong bottom-up management style, empowering frontline healthcare providers to identify challenges and develop strategies for improvement. His diverse body of professional experience and outstanding collaborative skills align perfectly with our vision for what we want to achieve with our academic partners.”
RWJUH is a 614-bed academic medical center that serves as the principal teaching hospital for Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. In addition, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at RWJUH is a 105-bed, dedicated children’s hospital that serves as the focal point of the growing pediatric academic medical campus in New Brunswick. This campus also features the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital and Ronald McDonald House New Brunswick.
Mr. Lee joins RWJUH from New York-Presbyterian (NYP), where he served in multiple senior leadership roles since 2009. He was Vice President of Support Services and Patient Experience at NYP/Weill Cornell, then Vice President of Operations at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, before assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. During his time there, Mr. Lee led strategic initiatives focused on patient experience, operations and capital expansion, environmental services, patient throughput and length of stay management.
Mr. Lee began his career in hotel management where he established a strong foundation in customer service and environmental standards at several New York City-based luxury and deluxe hotel brands, including the Millennium Broadway, the Regent Wall Street, and the Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park and Hudson, an Ian Schrager Hotel.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has named Alan Lee as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Long Branch woman has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison for planning and carrying out the sexual assault of a toddler with an accomplice a little more than four years ago, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Monday.
Olga Diaz, 35, must serve 33½ years of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole, in accordance with New Jersey’s Jessica Lunsford Act and No Early Release Act, under the terms set down Friday by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman.
The sentencing marked the culmination of a case developed via joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Long Branch Police Department, beginning on Friday, June 16, 2017 – when a man walked into city police headquarters to report that he had just witnessed two individuals committing sexual acts upon a child, spotted through a window of a Seaview Avenue apartment unit.
Diaz was arrested later that same day, while pulling out of her driveway. Diaz’s co-defendant, 37-year-old Mauricio Leon of Bloomfield, was located a week later with the assistance of members of the U.S. Marshals Service and arrested in Fort Lee.
During her plea allocution, Diaz admitted that she and Leon planned the sexual attack via text message, further admitting that she took nude photographs of the child the day before the sexual assault and took a separate video of herself sexually assaulting the child hours before the pair sexually assaulted her together – sending both the images and video to Leon using her cell phone.
The text messages, images, and video were recovered by police. The victim, who was under the age of 5 at the time, was known to Diaz.
“The depths of depravity necessary for two people to plan and commit a crime of this nature together against a helpless child are both beyond the capacity of the English language to suitably articulate and beyond the capacity of human comprehension to adequately understand,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “There is no place in any civilized society for anyone capable of such acts.”
Diaz ultimately admitted to two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, pleading guilty in April 2021. As a result of Friday’s sentencing – 25 years for the sexual assaults, 10 years for the endangering, to be served consecutively – Diaz will be 64 before becoming eligible for parole. Upon release, she will be required to register under Megan’s Law and placed on Parole Supervision for Life.
In August 2019, Judge Bauman sentenced Leon to 25 years in state prison on charges of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and third-degree Possession of Child Pornography.
The case was handled by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Tara Wilson and Julia Alonso.
Diaz was represented by Al Kapin, Esq., of West Orange.
Leon was represented by Michael Kuhns, Esq., of Lawrenceville.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation (S-1654) which requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide electronic push notifications for New Jersey E-ZPass customers. The notifications will inform customers who download the New Jersey E-ZPass mobile application of tolls incurred after passing through toll plazas operated by the NJTA or SJTA within 24 hours of the charge posting to customer’s account.
“E-ZPass customers deserve fast and timely notifications of charges incurred while traveling on our toll roads,” said Governor Murphy. “Much like push notifications for other day-to-day transactions that we all receive, this legislation will promote financial transparency and keep New Jerseyans informed of their commuting costs.”
“The benefit of this new law is to provide timely information to E-Z Pass customers regarding the use of their accounts,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, who serves as Chair of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.“Using the E-Z Pass mobile app, a push notification can be provided to customers keeping them informed of each time a toll is charged to their account, providing better security and management.”
Primary sponsors of S-1654 include Senators Linda Greenstein and Nellie Pou, and Assemblymembers Roy Freiman, Daniel Benson, and Britnee Timberlake.
“Up until now, E-ZPass account holders must rely on a monthly statement to confirm that tolls have proceeded correctly,” said Senator Greenstein. “With this new law, customers will have the option to know within 24 hours whether or not the toll was processed. By expanding customers’ options to include electronic notifications, users will be able to more immediately know that a toll was processed correctly, making paying tolls a more seamless process.”
“Under current law, E-ZPass is not required to notify their customers electronically, which can make it difficult to keep track of tolls,” said Senator Pou. “We live in a world where more and more people have become accustomed to seeing immediate billing notification on their electronic devices. This new law will provide that immediate confirmation when passing through a toll plaza, and allow customers to stay up to speed on their toll usage.”
“It is a reasonable expectation that when a consumer is charged with something, they immediately receive a receipt,” said Assemblyman Freiman. “This already happens with all other transactions. Now, under this new law, our electronic toll system will also provide a receipt to help customers’ better track their E-ZPass use.”
“An E-ZPass customer should know immediately if their account is being charged,” said Assemblyman Benson. “With this new law, customers will be notified or able to check in real-time to prevent an excessive bill at the end of the month.”
“E-ZPass transactions are made instantaneously,” said Assemblywoman Timberlake. “Customers will now be able to keep up with their daily E-ZPass use and clear up any charge disputes sooner rather than later.”
S-1654 will require push notifications to be delivered within 24 hours of the charge posting to the customer’s account, except when accounts are not recognized at the time of the transaction. Push notifications will be available for all toll plazas operated by NJTA or SJTA, meaning those on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway. It will also be available on toll plazas operated by the Cape May County Bridge Commission.
For a copy of the signing statement, please click here.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announced today that a man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash in South Brunswick.
At approximately 4:35 A.M., on September 19, 2021, South Brunswick police officers responded to the area of Major Road following the report of a single-car motor vehicle crash. An investigation by Officer William Beard of the South Brunswick Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined Antonino Ferlita, 22, of Marlboro was driving a 2002 Ford F-350 on Major Road when he left his lane of travel, overturned the truck, and struck a tree. The sole passenger of the vehicle, Gerald Pellak, III, 22, of Dayton, died at the scene.
Today, Antonino Ferlita was charged with one count of second-degree vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, and other motor vehicle offenses.
The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Beard of the South Brunswick Police Department at (732) 329-4000 ext. 4646, or Detective Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4328.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Ferlita are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
LAKEWOOD, NJ (OCEAN)–The Grand Opening of the Tru Birth Center in Lakewood was held yesterday October 17 and the Guest of Honor was Tammy Murphy. The TRŪ Birth Center provides optimized birth outcomes in a setting of amenities and empowerment. The center is located at 1382 Lanes Mill Road, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Tammy Murphy said, “With innovative care centers and committed partners like this, we’re well on our way to becoming the safest and most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.”
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Around 9:38 p.m. Sunday October 17, the Trenton Fire Department was dispatched to 8 Carroll for a building fire with reports of people trapped. At 9:41 firefighters were on location reporting heavy fire throughout a 3 story end of the row and two victims trapped on the roof. 3 BLS Ambulances and 2 ALS Units were called to the scene. Trenton fire fighters were able to rescue the two victims on the roof and transferred care to TEMS. It sounded like the injuries were BLS and the two victims were treated at the scene. At 10:00 p.m. Trenton Fire Department requested Hamilton Township Fire Department Special Service Unit to fill air bottles. A second alarm was called at 10:18 p.m. At 10:23 p.m. one firefighter was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for an unknown reason. At 11:02 p.m. a 3rd Alarm was called for bringing E-8, E53 and T33 to the scene. At 11:12 p.m. it was reported that fire was extending to the connected building. At 11:39 p.m. fire investigators, and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office was requested to the scene. Fire was reported under control at 11:50 p.m. *Times are approximate.
No further information is available at this time. Multiple mutual aid fire departments were called to the scene or cover the city. Note: We do not have access to the County or City CAD and don’t have a complete list of fire departments involved so we don’t have a list of departments.
This is a preliminary breaking news report, if further information becomes available it will be posted.
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