TOMS RIVER – Kristofer I. Coltenback, 43, of Manchester was standing outside of his Ford Explorer which was fully ablaze in the roadway when Township Police arrived at the scene of a traffic crash early on April 13.
Police arrived around 3:14 a.m. along with multiple units to the traffic crash located at Route 37 E and Peter Avenue. Coltenback was traveling westbound on Route 37 approaching the intersection with Peter Avenue when he swerved to the left and struck the curbed median which separates westbound and eastbound traffic.
After he struck the median, Coltenback continued traveling westbound on top of the median before striking and knocking down a traffic signal. He then continued westbound through the intersection, striking a second curbed median and a second traffic signal.
The impact from striking the second traffic signal then sent his vehicle across the eastbound lanes of traffic on Route 37. The accident didn’t end there.
Coltenback then struck another curb and traveled across an area of grass, before coming to a stop in the exit ramp for Batchelor Avenue off of Route 37 eastbound. As a result of the crash, two traffic light poles were laying on the ground in the intersection and the vehicle was engulfed in fire and destroyed.
Members of Toms River Fire companies 1 and 2 contained and extinguished the fire. The accident is being investigated by Traffic Safety Officer, PJ Gambardella.
Coltenback was issued summonses for DWI, Driving on a Revoked License, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Violation of Governor’s Executive Order Non-Essential Travel approved by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. His vehicle was impounded as a per John’s Law.
