Hit-And-Run Crash Took Down Poles, Damaged 8 Homes, Brick Police Say

BRICK, NJ — A truck driver from Maryland has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash that took down multiple utility poles and damaged eight homes in Brick Township, Brick police said Thursday.

Lawrence E. Preston, 40, of Lanham, Maryland, has been charged with leaving the scene and other offenses in the crash that happened about 6:20 a.m. on April 12 on Duquesne Boulevard and North Lakeshore Drive, Brick police said.

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Residents had reported multiple utility poles and power lines down, forcing Duquesne Boulevard to be closed for several hours, police said.

Authorities also determined eight homes had suffered structural damage as a result of the downed lines and poles, police said.

The vehicle that had caused the damage was not at the scene.

Surveillance footage from businesses in the area showed the vehicle suspected of causing the damage was coming from a recent delivery at a local business, police said.

Preston was driving a 2019 Mack truck at the time, according to online court records .

Brick Traffic Safety Officer Vincent Rustico issued summonses to Preston on April 14, charging him with leaving the scene of a crash, failure to report a crash, careless driving, improper U-turn and failure to maintain lane. He is due in Brick Township municipal court on June 4, according to online records.