Farmingdale Man Charged with Hitting Cars on Bridge on July 4th

By Denise Di Stephan 

A Farmingdale man is charged with careless driving in connection with allegedly hitting two cars on the Route 88 bridge in Point Borough on the night of July 4th, police said.

The accident caused police to close all but one lane of traffic on the bridge, which dramatically slowed the already-congested traffic flow heading west after the fireworks in Point Pleasant Beach, said Police Captain Richard Larsen. The three bridge lanes and a portion of Route 88 were closed from 10:33 p.m. to 11:21 p.m.

• 'Large Fight' Reported On Seaside Heights Boardwalk
• UPDATE: Point Beach Woman Charged After Three-Car Accident…
• Did Risden's $50 July 4th Parking Fee Break a Record?
• Point Boro Resident Among Many Facing Drug Charges in Wide…

One eastbound lane was left open, all west bound traffic was detoured to the eastbound lane and all eastbound traffic, once exiting the bridge, was detoured to Beaver Dam Road south, Larsen said.

The Farmingdale man who was charged is Dillon V. Cafiero, 21, who had been driving a 1997 Ford Escape west on the bridge when traffic began slowing and stopping in front of him, Larsen said.

Cafiero allegedly changed lanes, struck a 2003 Pontiac driven by a Lakewood resident, changed back into his original lane and struck a 2006 Chevrolet driven by a Sayreville resident, Larsen said.

Two passengers in Cafiero’s car suffered minor facial injuries and were transported to a local hospital, Larsen said.

The drivers of the three vehicles and three passengers in the Pontiac were uninjured.

Originally, preliminary police information seemed to indicate that a fourth car driven by Patricia L. Murran, 43, of Point Beach, had also been involved in the car accident.

However, after further investigation, it was learned that Murran had not collided with any other cars but had maneuvered her 2007 beige Chevrolet past a police car blocking the road, Larsen said.

 “She drove around a police car blocking the road and entered a closed lane of traffic,” Larsen said. “She was stopped by police, found to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested.”

She was processed at police headquarters on Bridge Avenue and released to someone who came to pick her up, Larsen said.

All three cars in the accident were towed by Garden State Towing.