TOMS RIVER – An accident involving three vehicles at the height of the evening rush sends a Jackson woman to the hospital in serious condition.
The accident on Whitesville Road near Cleveland Street and Route 70 took place Thursday night shortly after 4:30 p.m. Ultimately, the road was shutdown to all traffic for almost seven hours.
Toms River Police Spokesperson Jillian Messina said 67-year-old Richard Solari of Bayville was heading south in a Ram pickup truck when he crossed into the northbound lane, colliding with a Hyundai Elantra driven by 67-year-old Irene Firestone of Jackson.
After that initial collision, Solari’s truck slammed into a 2016 Ford van driven by 26-year-old Yisroel Eizikovitz of Lakewood.
Messina added that Firestone was trapped in her car and had to be extricated by the Pleasant Plains Fire Department. She was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.
Solari has to be rescued from his truck, which overturned. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River.
Eizikovitz was not injured.
Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officers Terry Warren, Adam Koeppen and PJ Gambardella are investigating the crash.
While the preliminary probe revealed no apparent impairments, Solari gave a blood sample at the hospital. No charges have been made.
The investigation is ongoing. The road has been reopened.
