N.J. Woman Struck By SUV While Saving Dog's Life: Cops

A 29-year-old N.J. woman was hit by an SUV while she was trying to save a dog's life on Friday, police said.

The woman was a passenger in a car that just hit the dog; she had left that car to help prevent the dog from being hit by another vehicle when she was hit herself, police said.

At 6:34 p.m., Lacey police were responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Beach Boulevard near the intersection of Palm Beach Drive when they found the woman.

Upon arrival to the scene, officers discovered that a woman had been struck by a vehicle traveling west on Beach Boulevard. The woman was later identified as Shannon Seaman of the Forked River section of Lacey Township, police said.

The woman was thrown several feet after being struck and was alert and conscious upon officer’s arrival, police said.

Prior to the accident, Seaman was the passenger in a vehicle that had been traveling west on Beach Blvd when it struck a dog that ran into the roadway, police said.

When the dog began to run back and forth across Beach Boulevard uncontrollably, Seaman entered the roadway to stop other vehicles in an attempt to prevent the dog from being struck again, police said.

Seaman was then struck by another vehicle also traveling west on Beach Boulevard. That vehicle, a silver Ford Explorer, was driven by 62 year-old Richard Kolinchik, also of Forked River, who remained at the scene and was cooperating with the Lacey Police.

Seaman was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by Monoc-1 helicopter, where she was listed in serious but stable condition Friday night. This accident is still under investigation.

Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the Lacey Township Police Department to speak with either of the two investigating officers, Officer George Resetar or Officer Jesse Dalziel, at (609) 693-6636.