Crime & Safety

Crash Amid Storm Closes Route 9 In Howell

A crash brought down a utility pole as a storm packing hail, heavy rain and strong winds lashed Howell.

HOWELL, NJ — Route 9 has reopened Friday after a crash Thursday night in the midst of a storm that lashed Howell with hail, heavy rain and strong winds.

Route 9 north had been closed at the Salem Hill Road intersection after the crash shortly after 6 p.m. that brought down a utility pole, police said.

It was partially reopened by 6:45 p.m. and was fully reopened to traffic Friday morning, police said.

Find out what's happening in Howellfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Details on the crash were not immediately available.

The storm sparked dozens of calls to 911 as hail pounded the area.

Find out what's happening in Howellfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Pea-sized hail covered the parking lot at Video Game Connections in a video shared on Facebook.

Another video showed the hail covering a parking lot at Aldrich Plaza.

Commenters in the Howell Happenings NJ Facebook group shared photos of thick coverings of hail in yards and driveways.

One woman wrote they had to shovel a path for their dog to go outside. Photos also showed hail that ranged up to the size of a quarter in diameter.

A video shared by Emily Visdens of hail on Main Street in Farmingdale captured the sounds of it hitting her car as lightning flashed in the background.

Another woman wrote that she was among a group of vehicles that pulled over during the height of the hail.

"Wildest weather I've seen in all of my 58yrs here!" another woman wrote.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.