BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – On Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 2315 hours, the Brick Township Police Department along with the Lakewood Police Department, responded to the area of Cedar Bridge Avenue at the border of Brick Township and Lakewood Township just east of the Garden State Parkway entrance for a report of a single car crash that struck a utility pole with serious injuries.
After the vehicle crashed into the utility pole, the top section of the utility pole broke off and landed on the roof of vehicle 01 causing the vehicle to catch on fire. Brenton Woods Fire Company (Station 21), Pioneer Fire Company (Station 22), and Lakewood Fire Department Engine 5 responded to the scene.
Brick Township Police Traffic Safety Unit was requested and respond to the scene as well. Preliminary investigation indicates that vehicle 01 was traveling west on Cedar Bridge Avenue. As vehicle 01 passed the parkway entrance it drove onto the shoulder and then turned abruptly left crossing over the center line and crashing into the guardrail on the shoulder of the eastbound lane.
After the initial impact of the guardrail, vehicle 01 continued west on top of the guardrail striking the utility pole causing the pole to break.
The top section of the pole with the power lines still attached came to rest on the roof of vehicle 01. The power lines caused vehicle 01 to catch on fire with the driver still trapped inside. A passerby and an off-duty Lakewood Police Officer assisted with removing the driver from the burning vehicle and rendered first aid till Police and first responders arrived on location. Fire units stood by for nearly an hour until Jersey Central Power and Light arrived on location to de-energize the down power lines. Once Jersey Central Power and Light de-energized the power lines and deemed the scene safe, The Fire Departments on location extinguish the fire.
The driver of vehicle 01 was transported to Jersey Shore University Hospital by Brick Police EMS and Paramedics from Hackensack Meridian Hospital. The roadway was closed and traffic was detoured for approximately several hours during the investigation. Jersey Central Power and Light remained on location to repair the damaged wires and replace the broken utility pole.