Day: March 22, 2022

Ocean County, Toms River

Smoking While Using Oxygen Ruled Cause of Serious Fire in Toms River

March 22, 2022

TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)-Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has announced that the structure fire that occurred on Mount Everest Lane in Toms River on March 20, 2022, has been ruled accidental.

On March 20, 2022, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department and Toms River Township Fire Department were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Mount Everest Lane.  During the primary search of the residence, two occupants, later identified as Linda Summerton, 73, and Ricky McMurry, 73, were discovered.  Due to the extent of their injuries, both occupants were airlifted to the Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.  Mr. McMurry remains listed in critical condition, while Ms. Summerton is listed in stable condition.

During the suppression of the fire, three firefighters received minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

An extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, determined that the fire was caused by careless smoking while oxygen was in use.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.

Two Residents Suffer Severe Burns in Structure Fire, Three Firefighters and One Police Officer Also Injured in Toms River
Mercer County, Trenton

40-Year-Old from Trenton Identified as Deceased Victim in Dirt Bike Crash into D & R Canal in Lawrence Township

March 22, 2022

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)—The New Jersey State Park Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a dirt bike that occurred yesterday on the D&R Canal Path between White Head Road and Carnegie Road after 3:00 p.m. New Jersey State Park Police identified the victim as 40-year-old Oliver Harris of Trenton, NJ. Emergency responders pulled him from the canal and transported him to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Yesterday’s MidJersey.News story here:

March 21, 2022

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 3:15 p.m. a 9-1-1 call was received reporting a vehicle crashed into the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, canal and was under water. Initial reports for the crash were for several locations including in the Whitehead Road area and Route 1, and behind WaWa near Bakers Basin Road. Lawrence Police, Lawrence Fire Departments, EMS and Capital Health Paramedics entered the trail from several points to try and find the exact location of the crash.

Lawrence Fire Department (Tower 20 crew) found a person on Route 1 waving the fire truck down near Mile Post 4.4 on the North Bound Side of the highway. It was the 9-1-1 caller; a companion who witnessed the motorcycle crash into the canal and pointed to the location of the accident.

The fire crew ran down the embankment toward the reported location and found a person in the water suffering from severe trauma and pulled the person out of water and began CPR. Police, EMS, along with Paramedics were directed to the proper location. The person was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

A dirt bike type motorcycle was found in the water. Lawrence Township Police had the D&R Canal path blocked off from Whitehead Road to Carnagie Road for the investigation.

MidJersey.News has not been able to officially confirm this was a fatal accident, but all indications are that the person was pronounced at the hospital. Lawrence Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office referred press information to the New Jersey State Park Police, were a reporter was told that the public information officer was not available. Information contained in this report is from radio reports and on scene reporting, once official information becomes available the story will be updated.

According to the D&R Canal website: The historic towpath along the main canal from Bakers Basin Road (Trenton) to New Brunswick has a natural surface for hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and biking. From Mulberry Street to Bakers Basin Road, the trail is crushed stone. Horse trailers may be parked in some of the parking areas located along the main canal. The trail along the feeder canal is made of fine textured crushed stone and is for hiking, jogging and biking. No horses are permitted on the feeder canal trail. Motorized vehicles or ATV’s are not permitted on trails in the park.

DEVELOPING: Reported Fatal Motorcycle Crash Along the D&R Canal State Park Trail in Lawrence Township
Photos from the accident scene yesterday.

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Traffic Alert: Crash on I-195 East Bound in Hamilton Township

March 22, 2022

UPDATE: As of 6:00 p.m. the traffic has returned to normal for this time of day.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–At 4:30 p.m. two cars collided in the left lane on I-195 East Bound in the area mile post 3.8 sending both vehicles crashing into the guardrail in the center median. It was unclear if there were any injuries in the crash. New Jersey State Police is on scene investigating.

The accident is at 195 East Bound between Yardville-Hamilton Square Road and the Klockner Road Overpass

According to Google Traffic the backup is over 3.25 miles in the east bound direction from I-295 to the Klockner Road over pass. In the west direction traffic is backed up from 1.5 miles from the area of the Route 130 accident to the accident scene.