2nd Pedestrian Killed In 10 Days On Route 9 In Freehold

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Freehold Township woman was killed Wednesday night when she was hit while crossing Route 9 in front of Freehold Mall, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Thursday.

Marie R. Casalino, 67, of Freehold Township, was pronounced dead at the scene, Gramiccioni said. She was crossing Route 9 at 9:05 p.m. Wednesday when she was hit in the northbound right lane by a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sahara driven by Nicholas C. Berenbroick, 23, also of Freehold Township, he siad.

Casalino was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m., Gramiccioni said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), and Freehold Township Police Department.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information to assist the investigative team should contact Detective Eric Kerecman of the prosecutor's office at 732-431-7160, or Freehold Township Police Department Officer Michael Smith at 732-462-7908, Gramiccioni said.

Casalino's death is the second fatal accident in the vicinity in less than two weeks. On Nov. 5, Lydia O. Lim, 70, of Long Island City, NY, was walking across Route 9 when she was hit in the southbound left lane, Gramiccioni said. She was crossing the road shortly before 6 p.m. when she was hit. She died a short time later at a nearby hospital.

Gramiccioni said authorities were seeking witnesses to that accident as well. Detective Kristian DeVito of the prosecutor's office and Freehold Township Patrolman Frank Mount (732-462-7908) are handling that case.

Note: This article has been updated to correct the location where Casalino was hit and killed. The Freehold Mall is a separate entity from Freehold Raceway Mall. The Patch regrets the error.

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