Brick Man Still 'Critical' After Crash

A Brick man remains in critical condition following a crash on Route 9 in Barnegat that killed a Manahawkin man Tuesday evening.

An AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center spokeswoman would not comment on details of Stephen Spinnak's condition, but said the 42-year-old Brick resident was still critical Tuesday, more than 15 hours after he was airlifted to the trauma center following the accident near Georgetown Boulevard.

Martin Miller, 36, of Manahawkin was pronounced dead after being transported to Southern Ocean County Medical Center, said Lt. Keith Germain of the .

Just after 5:30 p.m. Monday, Miller was traveling south on Route 9 when he drove his van onto the shoulder to pass a vehicle waiting to make a left turn, said Germain. Miller then crossed over into the northbound lane just north of the Georgetown Boulevard intersection and collided with a northbound box truck driven by Spinnak, Germain said.

The vehicles, which were badly damaged in the crash, came to rest partly inside a nearby bus stop shelter. Germain said both drivers had to be extricated. Police on the scene said no one was in the shelter at the time.

Route 9 was closed between Gunning River Road and Georgetown Boulevard for several hours following the crash. As of 10 p.m., the highway was reported as reopened by police.

The Barnegat Police Department Traffic Safety Unit and Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Support Team are investigating the accident.