NEPTUNE – A multi-vehicle hit and run in Neptune Township on Monday took the life of an 84-year-old man, officials said.
The crash took place around 9 a.m. on West Bangs Avenue, west of Alpine Trail, police said. Wesley Moore Jr. of Asbury Park was driving on West Bangs Avenue when he was sideswiped by 48-year-old Ariel Vernet of Asbury Park.
After the collision, Moore’s car continued to run off the road to the right and struck a chain-link fence. Moore was pronounced shortly thereafter, officials said.
Vernet’s car continued westbound and sideswiped a second car, operated by a 42-year-old Neptune woman. That woman was then rear-ended by a car driven by a 34-year-old man, also of Neptune.
Vernet fled the scene but was located later that day in Asbury Park. She was charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Collision and released on a summons.
Moore Jr., had two occupants in the car: a female passenger in the front seat and a young child in the rear of the vehicle. Both were uninjured in the crash, officials said. All other cars involved in the crash had no passengers in their vehicles.
At this time, the crash remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County SCART and Neptune Township Police Department.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to assist the investigative team is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Kristian DeVito at 800-533-7443, or Neptune Township Police Sergeant James MacConchie at 732-988-8000.
