Officer, Driver ID'd In Head-On Howell Crash

HOWELL, NJ —Charges are pending against a Howell man following a head-on crash Friday that injured a Howell police officer, police said Saturday.

The officer, identified as Patrolman John Woolley, suffered a significant injury to his foot and a cut to his face, Howell Detective Sgt. John Lopez said. The driver of the other car, Lawrence Cohen, 62, of Howell, suffered minor injuries including a cut to his face.

Lopez said Cohen was driving a gray 2010 Toyota Avalon on Manassa Road near Norse Road about 4:15 p.m. on Friday when his car drove into the oncoming lane and hit Woolley's patrol car head-on.

At the scene, Cohen could not explain why he crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. Cohen did consent to having blood drawn, and toxicology tests are pending, Lopez said, but added, " The investigation at this point has not revealed he was impaired from drugs or alcohol nor do we believe so."

Cohen will be charged with failure to maintain a lane, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

"We thank those who came over from the reservoir to assist Mr. Cohen and Patrolman Woolley," Lopez said. Both men were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for further evaluation; Woolley was released from the hospital on Saturday, Lopez said.

Howell Township Police, Howell Township Police Department EMS Unit, Farmingdale First Aid Squad, MONOC Paramedics and the Squankum Fire Department responded to the scene.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Patrolman Matthew Cherney of the Howell Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 732-938-4575, ext. 2629.

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Photo provided by Howell Township Police