Man Dies In 2nd Route 88 Crash After Fleeing 1st Crash: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Toms River man who sped off after rear-ending another vehicle died after he hit two other vehicles, one head-on, Saturday night on Route 88 a half-mile from the first collision, Lakewood police said Sunday.

German Alonso Velasquez Gonzalez, 41, of Toms River, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened in front of Ocean County Park about 8:40 p.m., Lakewood Detective Lt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Velasquez Gonzalez was driving a 2003 Nissan Altima west on Route 88 when he rear-ended a 2016 Nissan Sentra near the intersection of Dr. Szold Way, Staffordsmith said.

He fled the crash scene, taking off west on Route 88, Staffordsmith said. Near the entrance to Ocean County Park, about a half-mile west of the first crash, Velasquez Gonzalez's Altima crossed the center line and sideswiped a 2003 Honda Civic that was headed east. He then hit a 2014 Chevy Cruze that was eastbound and traveling behind the Honda, Staffordsmith said.

The driver of the Honda and his two juvenile passengers were taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where they were evaluated and released, he said.

The Chevy Cruze had five people in the car, and Staffordsmith said none of them sustained life-threatening injuries. The most serious injury was a broken leg sustained by the driver, he said. All five were taken local hospitals for treatment, he said.

The identities of the eight people who were injured were not released.

Route 88 remained closed for several hours while investigators processed the scene, he said. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Lakewood Officer Justin Pederson at 732-363-0200, or Detective Mike Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office at 732-929-2027.

Photo via Ocean County Sheriff's Office