Woman Airlifted, 3 Others Hurt In Lakewood Crash: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Bystanders helped to rescue a Brick Township woman and her dog after a four-vehicle crash Saturday evening on New Hampshire Avenue that injured three other people, Lakewood police said Monday.

Vanessa Zupko, 46, of Brick, remains hospitalized at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said. Three others injured in the crash were treated at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus for minor injuries for consisting of scrapes and bruises, he said.

Zupko's Kia Sorrento rolled over during the crash and pinned her between the top of the driver's door and the road; Staffordsmith said numerous bystanders who were on the scene lifted the car back upright and off her. Zupko slid the remainder of the way out of the car and was treated at the scene by Lakewood EMS before she was airlifted, he said.

Also rescued by a bystander was one of Zupko's two dogs, which was injured. The bystander took the injured animal to the emergency veterinary clinic on Route 70 for treatment, Staffordsmith said. The other was retrieved by animal control officers. Both dogs are being held at a local animal shelter, he said.

Staffordsmith said the investigation showed Zupko was driving north on New Hampshire Avenue about 7:45 p.m. Saturday when her 2003 Kia Sorrento crossed a double yellow line and hit a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Didier Agudelo, 55, of Lakewood head-on. Agudelo was stopped in the southbound lane of New Hampshire Avenue waiting to turn left onto Lucy Road. He and his passengers, Lisimaco Ramirez Catano of Middletown, NY, and Angel Zaadhy Garces Soto of Lakewood all were taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus for treatment, Staffordsmith said.

Right behind the Chevrolet was a 2003 Honda Odyssey driven by Maria I. Sanchez, 52, of Lakewood. Her Honda was hit and its driver's window and driver's side rear passenger windows broken by the tire of Zupko's Kia as it overturned. Staffordsmith did not report any injuries to Sanchez.

John L. Reed Jr., 26, of Toms River, was driving a 2014 Dodge Challenger south on New Hampshire Avenue and came upon the crash within a few seconds of the initial impact. Staffordsmith said Reed tried to swerve to the right to avoid the crash and in doing so hit the rear passengers side corner of the Chevrolet. No injuries were reported for Reed.

The crash remains under investigation, he said.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com

Follow us on Facebook. Click here to like our page.

Photo by Karen Wall, Patch staff