Man Hit Taking Trash Can Out Of Road Still Hospitalized

JACKSON, NJ — A man who stopped to remove a garbage can from the road remained hospitalized Thursday, recovering from injuries suffered when he was hit while removing the can, Jackson police said.

The man, a 30-year-old Jackson resident, was hit about 2 p.m. on Wednesday on New Prospect Road just south of Hyson Road. He suffered multiple fractures and serious injuries, Jackson Sgt. George Vidalis said, and the man was airlifted to a trauma center by MONOC. He remained in the hospital, according to public Facebook posts by a family member.

The man had been driving through the area but stopped to remove the garbage can that had blown into the road, Vidalis said. As he crossed the road after the retrieving the can, he was hit by a 2001 Acura SUV driven by a 27-year-old Freehold man. The Freehold man stopped immediately and with the help of his passenger and another motorist who stopped, helped the injured man and called 911, Vidalis said.

There were no indications that impairment or cell phone use played a role in the crash, and the Freehold man continued to cooperate with investigators, Vidalis said.

Jackson patrol officers, members of the department's Traffic Safety Unit, personnel from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office responded and are assisting with the investigation. Fire District 3 firefighters, Quality EMS personnel, and MONOC paramedics also responded, Vidalis said.

Jackson Police Officers Brad Reider and Joseph Candido and Detective Anthony Carrington of the prosecutor’s office are investigating.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and who has not been interviewed by police is asked to contact Reider at 732-928-1111.