TOMS RIVER – New Jersey State Police responded to a fatal multi-vehicle crash this morning near the southbound exit 81.6 of the Garden State Parkway in Toms River Township.
Ocean County Scanner News was the first to report the incident.
State Trooper Charles Marchan confirmed that police arrived on the scene at 8:12 a.m. Multiple cars were involved in the incident, however only one fatal injury has been reported so far.
According to social media chatter, witnesses believe the crash had been caused by a fallen ladder in the roadway. Officers from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for the fallen ladder near exit 81 southbound at approximately 8:10 a.m., just prior to the collision.
A witness to the accident posted a detailed account of the collision to Facebook this morning, recalling the sight of a “crushed” driver in one of the vehicles. “At that same time the car engine burst into flames while people from surrounding cars were around the crushed car. Heartbreaking to see this and can only pray for those involved,” the post stated.
Witnesses say the car collided with the rear of a dump truck and was then hit from behind by another vehicle.
All lanes were cleared to be reopened at 11:33 a.m., said Marchan.
