JACKSON – A serious motor vehicle crash on a Jackson Township roadway that left one man dead and six others injured is now under investigation.
The Jackson Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office are trying to determine what happened Friday afternoon on South Hope Chapel Road near Whitesville Road.
Jackson Police Captain Steven Laskiewicz said a 74-year-old woman was driving a Chrysler Sebring northbound on South Hope Chapel Road, and was negotiating a curve to the left, when the driver lost control and intruded into the oncoming lane. The road was partially snow covered.
At that same time, a Ford van driven by a 62-year-old Point Pleasant man was traveling southbound and was struck by the Chrysler.
An 84-year-old Jackson man, who was a passenger in the Chrysler, was seriously injured, and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
The female driver of the Chrysler was transported by ground to an area trauma center for moderate injuries.
Police said all occupants of the Ford van were transported by ground to an area hospital for minor injuries.
Impairment is not believed to have been a factor in this crash but a full probe is now under way.
The road was shut down for several hours while they combed the scene.
In addition to the Jackson Police, other responding agencies included the Whiteville Fire Company and Fire District #2 Firefighters, Quality EMS, MONOC EMS and the Ocean County Sheriffs Department CSI Unit.
This crash remains under investigation by Police Officers Brad Reider, Joseph Candido and Kevin Chesney of the Jackson Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit as well as Detective Mike Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Witnesses are urged to contact Officer Reider at 732-928-1111 ext 2405.
