Day: January 20, 2022

Brick, Ocean County

State Police Seeking Public’s Assistance with Arson Investigation

UPDATE:

Update: Two Juveniles Charged for Fire that Shut Down Garden State Parkway in Brick Township

January 20, 2022

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–The New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office is seeking the public’s assistance with an arson investigation that occurred on the Garden State Parkway in Ocean County.

On Wednesday, January 19, at approximately 5:00 PM, troopers responded to the report of a fire in the area of milepost 91 in Brick Township. Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives determined that the fire was started by several individuals, possibly juveniles, within a drainage culvert that runs underneath the Garden State Parkway from the 91 north entrance ramp to the 91 south exit ramp.

After starting the fire in the culvert opening on the south side, the suspects were seen running into the Evergreen Woods Park Apartment Complex, which runs parallel to the Garden State Parkway.

As a result of the fire, the Garden State Parkway was closed to all traffic between Wall Township and Lakewood Township for several hours.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, the events leading up to it, or any other information that might aid this investigation, is asked to contact the Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office – Holmdel Station at 732-441-4576 or 732-441-4550. Anonymous tips are welcomed.

Photos and video by: Jersey Shore Fire Response

Burlington, Pemberton

Pemberton Township Woman Charged with Reckless Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide; Drove DWI at 90+MPH, No Lights and Killed 17-Year-Old in Head-On Crash

January 20, 2022

PEMBERTON, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Pemberton Township Police Chief Jason Watters announced that a 54-year-old Pemberton Township woman has been charged with driving while impaired and causing the death of a teenage motorist late last year during a head-on collision that occurred after she left a Browns Mills bar.

Wanda Sprague, of the 200 block of Pemberton Browns Mills Road, was charged with Reckless Manslaughter (First Degree) and Vehicular Homicide (Second Degree). During a first appearance in Superior Court this afternoon, the Hon. Terrence R. Cook, P.J.Cr., ordered her not to have any contact with the victim’s family. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

The investigation began December 16 after officers from the Pemberton Township Police Department were dispatched to the area of Lakehurst Road and Rancocas Lane for a report of a motor vehicle accident at approximately 9:15 p.m.

The investigation determined that the headlights on Sprague’s Chrysler 300 were not turned on when she crashed head on into a Nissan Sentra being driven by Kayla Bowen, 17, of Pemberton Township. Ms. Bowen was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation further determined that Sprague had been consuming alcohol prior to the crash at a nearby bar, and reached a speed exceeding 90 mph prior to the collision. She suffered extensive injuries from which she is still recovering.

In addition to the criminal charges, Sprague was issued multiple traffic citations, including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. She is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Dennis, supervisor of the BCPO Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.

The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Pemberton Township Police Department, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police. The lead investigators are BCPO Detectives Brian Cunningham and Melyssa Alonso, and PTPD Detective Joshua Mann.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

2022-06 Woman Faces Homicide Charge in Fatal Collision

Bordentown Twp, Burlington

Update: Serious Injuries Reported in Bordentown Accident Involving NJ State Police Vehicle

January 20, 2022

BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Sgt. Alejandro Goez from the New Jersey State Police told MidJersey.news that the accident was reported at 3:35 p.m. at the intersection of US 130 and Groveville Road. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that a trooper driving a marked Ford Explorer was traveling north on US 130 approaching the intersection with Groveville Road and a Volvo C70 was traveling west on Groveville Road. The driver of the Volvo failed to obey the traffic signal and entered the intersection with US 130. As a result, the front of the troop car struck the left side of the Volvo. During the collision, the driver of the Volvo was ejected and struck the front of a Toyota Camry traveling south on US 130.

The trooper sustained moderate injuries and was taken to an area hospital. The driver of the Volvo, a 54-year-old female, sustained serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital. The driver of the Toyota was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.

BREAKING: Serious Crash Involving NJ State Police Vehicle in Bordentown
Ewing, Ewing, Mercer County

Firefighters Extinguish Truck Fire in Mercer County DOT Building Saving Fleet of Snow Removal Equipment as Storms Approach

January 20, 2022

EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Ewing Township firefighters and Mercer County Airport firefighters responded to 300 Scotch Road for a vehicle on fire inside a Mercer County Department of Transportation building around 3:30 a.m. First arriving firefighters found a DOT truck fully involved inside the center bay of the vehicle garage and a full first alarm was called. Mercer County Airport Fire Department used their ARFF front bumper turret to start knocking down the flames. Chief 33 reported water on the fire and flames knocked down. Firefighters used handlines to further extinguish and mop up.

It appears that there was smoke and heat damage to the structure and firefighters were able to knock the fire down in time before it spread to other vehicles saving the building, vehicles and other equipment stored there. Quick action by firefighters saved Mercer County’s fleet of snow removal equipment with a reported storm on the way.

No further details are available at this time.

About an hour later Ewing Township firefighters responded to a Mercer County DOT vehicle with a brake fire on Scotch Road and Parkway Avenue. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Trenton-Mercer FD

Around an hour later Ewing Township firefighters responded to a Mercer County DOT vehicle with a brake fire on Scotch Road and Parkway Avenue: