Avoid Route 70 In Brick Thursday Night; Crash Probe Continues: Police

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township police are asking motorists to avoid the area of Route 70 and Burnt Tavern Road on Thursday evening while they conduct further investigation into a crash that killed a bicyclist Saturday evening.

Brick police issued a Nixle alert Thursday afternoon asking motorists to avoid the area Thursday night:

"Traffic Safety Unit is continuing to investigate fatal crash on Rt 70 and Burnt Tavern Rd. Lanes will be closed. Avoid area," the alert sent about 12:20 p.m. said.

The closure will occur about 8 p.m., the alert said.

Drew Aponte, 15, who would have been a sophomore at Brick Memorial High School, was killed late Saturday night as he crossed Route 70 on his bicycle at Burnt Tavern Road. He was struck in the westbound lanes of Route 70 by a 2017 Subaru Forrester driven by Kathleen Calabro, 68, of Toms River. The impact threw Aponte into the Subaru's windshield and then to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

>> READ MORE: 15-Year-Old Bicyclist Killed In Route 70 Accident: Brick Police

A number of Patch readers commenting on Facebook complained the intersection is very poorly lit.

"I live very close to this intersection and it is horrible from all directions," Kristen Peto wrote. "Too dark and it needs a total four-way stop. People are constantly blowing red lights and yielding or (not) following speed laws. It either needs cameras or a new design before the death counts grows higher."

Police did not estimate how long the lanes will be closed.

Route 70 looking west at the intersection with Burnt Tavern Road. Photo via Google Maps