Crime & Safety

Toms River Man Injured in Brick Blvd. Crash

Crash during lane change sends man to hospital

A Toms River man was injured after being involved in a motor vehicle accident with a Brick man on Brick Blvd. Tuesday morning at approximately 10:51 a.m., police said.

John Coviello, 37, of Toms River, was traveling southbound on Brick Boulevard in his 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, proceeding into the intersection with Cedar Bridge Avenue, when a 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by Colin Hartigan, 20, of Brick, struck his vehicle, according to Brick Police Sgt. David Bedrosian.

Hartigan was traveling southbound in the center lane and was attempting to change to the left lane, where Coviello was traveling, when the crash occurred. The crash caused Coviello to lose control of his vehicle and strike the center concrete median, located on the south side of the intersection. Striking the median caused the vehicle to roll over, said Bedrosian.

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Coviello's Equinox came to a final rest on its right side approximately 60 feet past the intersection in the left southbound lane, Bedrosian said. The overhead traffic light pole, located on the southbound median, was also struck by the Equinox and came down into the roadway as a result of the crash.

Coviello was transported to for further treatment of his injuries, which were described by police as leg pain and a minor arm burn due to air bag deployment. Hartigan was not injured.

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The Ocean County Road Department responded to repair the downed traffic light pole, though the function of the traffic signal at the intersection was unaffected by the crash, Bedrosian said.

Brick Police officers Louis Valanzola, Candace Lambert, Mark Storch and Glenn Turner were the initial responding officers to the scene. Valanzola is continuing the investigation. Hartigan was issued a summons for careless driving at the scene.

Both the and Fire Companies were called to the scene for leaking vehicle fluids and to assist police. Brick Police EMS also responded.


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