Teenage Boy On Bicycle Hit By Car On Route 9 In Lacey

A 15-year-old male on a bicycle was involved in a collision with a car near the intersection of Route 9 and Clearwater Drive at 9:13 p.m. on Wednesday night, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Initial investigation at the scene indicates that the youth was pedaling his bicycle on the southbound shoulder of Route 9, when he suddenly turned into the southbound lane of Route 9 and collided with a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck being operated by Jeffrey Smith, 34, of Forked River, the chief said.

The boy was thrown from his bicycle, then hit the Dodge Dakota and fell to the ground. The Lacey Township First Aid Squad and paramedics responded and treated the 15-year-old bicyclist. The teen was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by a MONOC MedEvac Helicopter for treatment, Paprota said.

The Lacey Township Accident Investigation Unit, along with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Crime Scene Unit, responded to investigate the incident. Route 9 was temporarily closed for 3 hours between Parker's Point Boulevard and Clearwater Drive. The New Jersey D.O.T. Incident Management Response Team (IMRT) responded and assisted with traffic. Officer George Resetar and Officer Adam Ewart of the Lacey Township Police Department are the investigating the crash.

The boy was flown to Jersey Shore Hospital due to a concern regarding a possible head injury, the chief said.

"Initial indications are that the crash involved a low speed impact and the severity of the possible injury could not be determined at the scene," Paprota said.

Patch will update when more information is available.