Ocean County Woman Hurt In Route 72 Crash, Dog Missing: Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A Little Egg Harbor woman was injured and her dog was missing following a crash Monday morning on Route 72 near the Causeway Bridge, police said.

Gabrielle McMillan, 23, was taken to Atlantic City Trauma Center, Stafford Township police said, and the search for her dog was expected to continue Tuesday.

McMillan was driving east on Route 72 in a Nissan Sentra about 10:50 a.m. As she drove down the east side of the bridge, she lost control of her car, police said. It left the road, hit a utility pole and rolled over.

MONOC paramedics and the Stafford Township First Aid Squad arrived shortly thereafter and began medical treatment on McMillan, who was wearing a seatbelt. She was flown to the trauma center but her injuries were considered non-life threatening. She was later released from the hospital.

Traffic on Route 72 was directed through the scene for about an hour.

Police and staff with the township's Bureau of Fire Prevention and Animal Control — along with other agencies — searched the area for the dog, a boxer-rottweiler mix named Jax, for several hours, police said.

"The family members of the driver are present and assisting in the search as well. The police are currently using a drone in attempts to locate the dog along with other resources," police said in a post on Facebook later Monday, before posting an update that the search would resume Tuesday.

"Please do not stop or pull over on Route 72 and attempt to join the search," police said. "We do not need another serious accident in the area."

Patrolman Jillson is the investigating officer. Assisting on scene were Officers Dunfee, Kunder and Macfarlane. Other agencies assisting were Ship Bottom Police Department, Ship Bottom Fire Police and the Surf City Police Department.