Serious Injuries Result From Route 70 Accident in Brick

Serious injuries resulted from an accident on Route 70 when one car turned into the path of another, causing a crash, Brick police said.

The 6:15 p.m. accident at Route 70 and Olden Street, near the Home Depot store, occurred when a 2007 Jeep Compass being driven by  James R. Coleman, 43, of Orlando, Fla., was traveling eastbound on Route 70 and turned left into the path of a 2008 Honda Accord being driven by Susan C. Palumbo, 48, of Toms River, according to Brick Police Sgt. David Bedrosian.

The Accord had also been traveling eastbound on Route 70, according to a police report.

Both vehicles collided within the intersection itself, Bedrosian said, with the Jeep leaving the travel-portion of the roadway and striking the end portion of the concrete “Jersey” barrier. After striking the concrete barrier, it collided with the traffic signal stanchion causing it to fall into the westbound lanes. Then, after striking the traffic signal stanchion, the vehicle rolled-over onto its roof coming to rest in the left eastbound lane of Route 70.

The Accord came to a stop in the center lane of Route 70, Bedrosian said.

Coleman, the driver of the Jeep, was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for head injuries, while Palumbo – the Accord driver – was taken to Ocean Medical Center, Brick for treatment of abrasions and a hand injury.

A passenger in the Accord, Joseph M. Palumbo, 52, of Toms River, was not injured.

Traffic was detoured for approximately three hours around the scene with the assistance of the state Department of Transportation, Bedrosian said. 

The Brick Township Police Department’s Emergency Medical Services and Brick Township Volunteer First Aid, along with Lakewood EMS and MONOC Paramedics responded to the scene. Laurelton Fire Company responded to the scene to provide extrication.

Bedrosian and Officer Scott Dierking of the Brick Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit responded and are conducting the crash investigation. Any potential charges are pending further investigation, Bedrosian said.