Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
An early-morning crash involving three vehicles on Route 70 in Brick sent all of the drivers to local hospitals, however all are expected to recover.
According to Brick Police Sgt. Jim Kelly, found that a 2018 black Audi A6, being operated by Mark Ferrell, 35, of Toms River, was driving westbound on Rt. 70 on the opposite side of the divided highway.
The wrong-way driver was then involved in a head-on collision with a 2020 blue Volvo XC4, operated by Mark Valle, 28 years of Brick. The impact, in turn, caused Valle’s vehicle to rotate and crash into a 2004 black GMC Sierra operated by Patrick McElroy, 56, of Toms River.
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All three drivers were transported to the hospital (Ferrell to Jersey Shore, Valle and McElroy to Ocean Medical) for non-life-threatening injuries. Ferrell had to be extricated from his vehicle by members of Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose and Laurelton Fire companies who responded to the scene. The victims were treated and transported by members of the Brick Police EMS unit.
As a result, Rt 70 eastbound was closed for several hours and was reopened by 10 a.m., police said.
Investigators are looking into a possible connection to a separate, earlier hit-and-run crash which occurred on Rt. 70 westbound in the area of the Home Depot. Minor injuries were reported in that crash.
The investigation is ongoing. Both crashes are being investigated by Sgt. Keith Donnelly and Ptl. Jay Lampiasi of the Brick Township Traffic Safety Unit. Anyone who may have witnessed either crash are asked to contact Donnelly or Lampiasi at 732-262-1140.
