Lacey Man, 78, In Critical Condition After Two-Car Crash

A 78-year-old Lacey man was listed in critical condition Friday night after he tried to cross Lacey Road from Briggs Avenue North in his Honda Accord and collided with another vehicle, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Police responded to the intersection at 5:14 p.m. on a report of a motor vehicle with entrapment and injuries, the chief said.

Officer Noah Schaffer and other officers discovered that Richard Smagula was trapped inside his car. Preliminary investigation revealed that Smagula was the only occupant of his vehicle and had tried to cross Lacey Road when his car crossed into the path of another car traveling westbound on Lacey Road, Paprota said.

The second vehicle - a Ford Mustang - struck the driver’s side of the Honda. The driver of the Mustang was identified as Abigail Herb, 18, Lacey. She was uninjured, the chief said.

The Forked River Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to extricate Smagula from the Honda Accord. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by Lacey EMS along with MONOC paramedics. Smagula was listed in critical condition as of 9 p.m. on Friday, Paprota said.

The accident is under investigation.