Two Serious Accidents on New Hampshire Avenue in Toms River; Area Residents Hurt
Update on four-vehicle crash that left five hospitalized
A Jackson man driving northbound on New Hampshire Avenue near North Maple collided with several southbound vehicles in an accident 9 a.m. Thursday.
Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said James Danton, 42, was driving a 1999 Toyota northbound when he struck the 2008 Hyundai of Geraldine Ventola, 88 of Holiday City at Berkeley.
Danton's Toyota then collided with a county pick-up truck and a fourth vehicle, a van, that were also southbound, said the police chief.
Geraldine Ventola's vehicle overturned, and the remaining vehicles faced serious damage, as multiple individuals were hospitalized from the accident, Mastronardy said.
Ventola and her passenger Anthony D’ambola, 69, of Holiday City at Berkeley were transported to Jersey Shore Hospital in Neptune.
Danton was extricated by Pleasant Plains and Silverton fire companies and transported to Community Medical Center Toms River by Silverton First Aid Squad.
Richard Ackerson, 76, of Stafford was operating the county pick up and was transported to Community Medical Center Hospital.
Amy Fairchild, 49, of Howell was driving a van south on New Hampshire and was transported by Lakewood EMS to Brick Hospital.
Toms River Police and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office are continuing to investigate.
New Hampshire Near White Oak Bottom
A three-vehicle accident at New Hampshire and White Oak Bottom occured at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mastronardy said.
John Taylor, 79 of Lakewood, was driving north on New Hampshire and turned left onto White Oak Bottom and collided with a southbound vehicle — a 2000 Ford driven by Jesus Mendez, 28 of Toms River.
Mastronardy said the Ford then a struck a 2001 Chevrolet that was eastbound on White Oak Bottom stopped at the stop sign. The driver of the Chevy, Michael Arneth 38 of Beachwood, was transported to Community Medical Center.
Mastronardy said Mendez was issued a summons for being an unlicensed driver, and Taylor was issued a summons for failing to yield at an intersection.
Traffic Safety Officer Robert Westfall responded.
Toms River Resident Injured at Lakehurst Circle
A Toms River woman was taken to the hospital following an early morning crash Thursday at the Lakehurst Circle, police said.
Vineland resident Ryan M. Marshall was driving a 2008 Hyundai when police allege that failed to yield at the circle where Routes 70 and 37 meet and struck a 2005 Toyota driven by Patricia Gonzalez of Toms River at about 6:45 a.m., said Lakehurst Police Sgt. Ronald Heinzman.
The Lakehurst First Aid Squad responded to the scene and transported Gonzalez to Community Medical Center in Toms River with a head injury.
Marshall was issued summonses for failure to yield, having an unregistered vehicle and having an uninsured vehicle, according to Heinzman.
The eastbound lane of Route 70 was closed for about 45 minutes as emergency responders tended to the scene. Officers Matthew Kline and Stephen Gallo are investigating the crash, Heinzman said.
In addition to Heinzman, Officer Raymond Vosseller and members of the Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Common Sense in Silverton
9:57 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Wow. I drive home from work every day on New Hampshire. I missed the accident on Wednesday by mere minutes!
.
10:48 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Me too, I drive that same way home from work in Lakewood every day.
mike
5:23 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
88 and still driving?
BN
9:37 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
I'm more concerned that our county employs 76 year-olds as DRIVERS. A librarian, OK, bur a DRIVER? of a large vehicle no less...
suz
5:50 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
I was just patiently waiting for someone to comment on the woman's age...I say God bless her! Please make note that she was NOT responsible for the accident. Some jerk who had a car that was unregistered and uninsured (and probably fake drivers license) was at fault. Scary to drive lately, huh?
no name
7:25 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
I'm sorry - why the focus on the age of the victims? It was the 40 something year old who caused the accident
Diane
8:09 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
She's only 68. her birthday was a couple of days ago. Paper had her age wrong. I'm her daughter. Please pray for her she needs all the prayers she can get right now. She's in critical condition.
suz
8:53 am on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Oh so sorry Diane...I wish her well and my prayers are with her.
Jacqueline Ferrara
8:34 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sue, you got the 2 articles mixed up. The woman was hit by the county truck. Her unfortunate accident happened at 9:00am. The accident with the driver unregistered, etc. vehicle happened at 5:30pm.
no name
7:27 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Jacqueline - you have the articles mixed up - the 40 year old man from Jackson caused the accident that hit the 68 year old and the 76 year old
Rachel Tomasi
1:16 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Diane shes in my prayers. People are different at the same age. My Dad is 71 and well I'm not gonna jinx him but he drives 2 hours each way to visit us bi wkly and about the same to my brother just forty min closer if that and he's got a spotless record and has even had to drive with a patch on One eye for a number of months last yr. he's the best driver I know. He taught me and I'm a good defensive driver tho nervous to drive now due to being hit and also just seeing and reading about the crazy drivers since I moved here. He also works full time again as a teacher and is constantly getting awards. The 76 ye old truck driver probably has been doing so a LONG time and HOPEfully they go by your record and evaluations.
Diane your mom and you and family are sincerely in my prayers for a full speedy recovery. I hope they do a follow up article to let us know the people involved are ok!
Rachel Tomasi
1:18 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Also I understand she's 68, but when I read 88 I did raise an eyebrow too I'll admit it. Human nature. But I bet there ARE 88 yr olds that are good drivers. I think it should DEFINTELY B sonething they retest but on an individual basis.