LAKEHURST – Borough police and utility workers responded on August 11 to a 12:16 p.m. crash that tied up traffic along Route 70 and Center Street for hours.
According to Borough Police, the driver of the vehicle, Robert Ricci, 84, of Toms River, suffered a medical emergency in which he lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole near the property of the McDonald’s located at 98 Route 70.
The impact caused the pole to fall and the fast-food restaurant was forced to close temporarily due to live power lines down on the property.
The McDonald’s restaurant also sustained damage to their electric panel inside the store stemming from the crash. Traffic on Route 70 and Route 547 was diverted for approximately six hours while JCP&L utility workers replaced the pole and power lines.
Ricci was transported to Community Medical Center by Jackson EMS for further medical treatment. Assisting on scene was the Lakehurst Fire Department, Joint Base Fire Department, RWJ Paramedics, Jackson First Aid Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office, Manchester Building inspector and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
