Freehold Woman Dies After Collision With Bayville Motorist

A Freehold woman died after sustaining injuries in a vehicle collision Friday night in Howell.

Township police are investigating the 11:45 p.m. collision at the intersection of Strickland Road and Route 9 that claimed the life of Eileen Figueroa, 26, of Freehold.

Howell police said Figueroa was driving a 2010 Mazda 3 sedan late Friday when she was struck by a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer operated by Bilge Santamaria, 34, of Bayville. Figueroa's car sustained heavy passenger side damage, police said.

Santamaria's SUV sustained front-end damage and caught fire after colliding with a traffic light, police said. She was able to get out of her truck along with two of her children, ages 9 and 11, while a passerby helped remove her 5-year-old child from the Chevy, police said.

Howell First Aid and MONOC Paramedics transported Santamaria and her three children to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where they were treated and released.

Figueroa was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where she died of her injuries.

Route 9 South was closed at Elton Adelphia Road until early this morning.

The Howell Township Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutors Office, Howell Township First Aid Squad and Adelphia Fire Company all responded, according to Patrolman Scott Brooks, who is leading the investigation.

Anyone with information related to the collision is asked to contact Brooks at 732-938-4111.