TOMS RIVER – At least one person is injured from a five-car crash that occurred early Thursday morning on Route 9.
According to officials, a car was traveling south on Route 9 around 7 a.m. when it veered off the road and struck a utility pole in front of 1380 Route 9. The driver told officials that they were blinded by a northbound vehicle’s headlights.
As a result, the utility pole was destroyed with wires down across Route 9. A vehicle traveling northbound and another vehicle traveling southbound – behind the initial car – were unable to avoid the pole and debris that fell in the road.
A third southbound car was able to stop before hitting the pole or any other vehicles. However, it was struck in the rear by a fourth southbound car. A passenger from the fourth car was brought to Community Medical Center with a complaint of head pain, officials said.
All five vehicles involved in the crash were damaged and two vehicles had to be towed from the scene. The driver that struck the pole was issued tickets for the crash, officials said.
Due to the crash, Route 9 was detoured between Route 571 and Whitty Road for about one hour. At this time, the road has reopened but roadwork continues on the shoulder.
