Lit Explosive Tossed From Pickup Truck In Along Squankum Road In Lakewood: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities are investigating after a lit explosive was tossed from a pickup truck into a wooded area on Squankum Road Saturday evening, Lakewood police said.

There were two pedestrians walking along about 50 to 100 feet from where the item was tossed and exploded, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said, but there were no injuries.

The explosion first was reported by a resident, who said he heard a loud "boom" after seeing two pickup trucks driving slowly along Squankum Road. Video from a nearby home security system showed two pickup trucks "traveling in tandem" south on Squankum Road just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday, he said. They stopped near a small wooded area near Shafto Road and after what was described as a brief pause, a lit item was thrown from one of the trucks, Staffordsmith said.

Staffordsmith said the only description of the two pickups was one was light-colored and the second was dark-colored.

Officer Daniel Spagnuolo responded, and the investigation is continuing, Staffordsmith said, with assistance from Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Kevin Donnelly at the Lakewood Police Department, 732-363-0200, ext. 5346.