BRICK, NJ – A fire on the Garden State Parkway Wednesday is suspected to have been caused by a group of neighborhood kids, police said.
“Yesterday’s fire was dangerous and caused significant traffic problems for several hours. We want to both acknowledge the multi-agency efforts at fighting and containing the fire and ask the community for some assistance in the ensuring arson investigation,” the Brick Police Department said.
The fire led to the shutdown of the Garden State Parkway.
Based on preliminary investigation, Detectives determined that a group of individuals, possibly juveniles, lit a fire within a drainage culvert that runs under the Garden State Parkway from Entrance 91 north to Exit 91 south, Brick Twp. Upon lighting the fire in the culvert opening on the south side, the individuals 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 Twp. and Lakewood Townships 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. Anonymous tips are welcome.