TOMS RIVER, NJ – As freezing rain and snow slicked Ocean County roads Friday night, the Toms River Police Department issued a public warning urging residents to avoid travel and drive with caution if venturing out. The department posted the alert on social media, emphasizing the growing danger of icy conditions throughout the township.
“Please use extreme caution if you have to travel tonight as snow and icy road conditions may be present,” police said in a statement shared on Facebook. “We recommend you slow down, increase following distance, and avoid unnecessary travel.”
The advisory came amid widespread traffic restrictions and crashes across New Jersey, as frozen precipitation coated highways from the Turnpike to the Garden State Parkway. Local streets in Toms River and surrounding Ocean County towns were reported as slick and slushy, with temperatures hovering below freezing, causing wet surfaces to refreeze.
Public works crews were dispatched to salt priority routes, but officials warned that refreezing remained likely overnight. Drivers were urged to remain off the roads where possible until treatment operations could restore traction.
Toms River police warned residents to stay alert for black ice and said additional updates would be provided as conditions evolve through the evening.