Howell Police Officer Injured In West Farms-Georgia Tavern Crash, Chief Says

HOWELL, NJ -- A Howell Township police officer was injured Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision that caused a three-hour power outage and a small brush fire, and shut down West Farms Road and Georgia Tavern Road overnight, the police chief said.

Patrolman Sean MacDonald, who radioed that he had been involved in a collision, was treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for non-life-threatening injuries and released, Howell Chief Andrew Kudrick said.

The crash occurred when a 17-year-old female driving a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, who had been stopped at a stop sign on Georgia Tavern Road, pulled into the path of MacDonald's 2012 Chevrolet Caprice, which was eastbound on West Farms Road about 4 p.m., he said.

The collision sent MacDonald's car off the road and into a utility pole that broke in two pieces, Kudrick said, bringing down wires and trapping MacDonald in his car. He had to be extricated before he was taken to the hospital, he said.

The teen and her passenger refused medical attention at the scene and were released to their parents, Kudrick said.

The fallen, sparking wires caused a brush fire that was quickly contained by firefighters, he said. Power was restored in about three hours, and the roads, which were closed overnight, reopened Saturday morning, he said.

Howell Township Police EMS, the Farmingdale-Howell First Aid Squad, Howell First Aid and Rescue Squad, Adelphia, Freewood Acres and Squankum Fire Departments as well as the NJ Forest Fire Service all responded to the scene along with Howell police.

The investigation is ongoing. There were witnesses that remained at the scene; anyone else with information about the crash is asked to contact Sgt. Joseph B. Markulic at 732-938-4575 ext. 2831.