Four Injured in New Hampshire Ave. Head-On Crash

A 17-year-old from Lakewood whose license is suspended was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, with a leg injury after the car he was driving collided with another head-on early Saturday morning, Toms River police say.

Anthony Wright Jr., 17, of Lakewood, was northbound on New Hampshire Avenue in a 1997 Nissan with Alfred Demby, 17, and Thomas Jalen, 18, both of Lakewood, when their car collided with a 2011 Honda driven by Laureen Coup, 43, of Bayville, who was southbound on New Hampshire Avenue, Chief Michael Mastronardy said. The accident happened near White Oak Bottom Road about 1:30 a.m., he said.

"Wright reported to Traffic Safety Corporal Sean McHugh  that he fell asleep as he was driving home," Mastronardy said, and Demby, who was in the front seat, confirmed that information. Demby told police he had been asleep in the front seat but woke up and realized Wright had fallen asleep and tried to wake him just before the accident happened, Mastronardy said.

Coup and an unidentified driver who witnessed the crash also told police that Wright's car crossed into Coup's lane.

Coup was taken to Community Medical Center by Toms River Police EMS, where she was treated and released, Mastronardy said. Demby was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of a broken arm.

Jalen, who had been in the back seat of Wright's car, walked away from the scene after the collision and was found walking along New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood by Officer Adam Koeppen, whom he told he was walking to the hospital. Jalen was taken to Kimball Medical Center by a Lakewood ambulance for treatment of a laceration under his eye.

Pleasant Plains and Silverton Fire companies extricated Wright from his car. The extent of his injuries are unknown. He has been charged with driving while suspended, reckless driving, provisional license violation and failure to wear a seatbelt.