Man Dies After Suffering Gunshot Wound, Crashing Into Tree Near Howell

A local man died after he apparently was shot and then crashed into a tree, authorities said.

At 12:06 a.m., Lakewood Police Department received a 911 call reporting a vehicle crash in the area of 1226 E. County Line Road, Lakewood, authorities said.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office:

The arriving officers found a silver 2002 Chrysler Town & County minivan crashed head on into a tree. The driver of the minivan, a Hispanic male who was about 50 years old, was unconscious and appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound.

He was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center. Surgery performed there confirmed that he was the victim of a gunshot. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:31 a.m.

The victim had in his possession a fake Maryland driver’s license. Therefore, his identity is not confirmed and next of kin has not been notified.

The registered owner of the minivan has not been located at this time, further impeding the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Ocean County Prosecutor Det. Raymond Gardner and Lakewood Police Det. Nate Montgomery are the leads in this investigation. Anyone with information regarding the victim’s identity or the shooting are urged to call the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at732-929-2027 or the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200.