2 Hurt In 6-Car Crash At Route 70-Whitesville Road: Toms River PD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two people were injured and six vehicles were damaged on Thursday morning in a crash at Whitesville Road and Route 70 that police say happened when a driver swerved to avoid a car turning left in front of him.

The crash is the second serious one in two weeks at the intersection; on Sept. 13, three people were injured, one critically, in a collision at the site. The Toms River Traffic Safety unit has contacted the state Department of Transportation about the high volume of crashes at that intersection and will be conducting additional patrols in the area, said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Thursday's crash happened about 7:40 a.m., Messina said.

Nicholas Williams, 26 of Edgewater, told police he was driving east on Route 70 in a truck and as he approached Whitesville Road, the traffic signal changed from green to yellow. At the same time, a dark-colored Nissan sedan made a left turn from westbound Route 70 onto Whitesville Road, crossing in front of Williams, Messina said.

Williams braked hard and swerved to avoid the Nissan but hit stopped traffic on Whitesville Road with the passenger side front of his truck. His truck hit several cars, drove over the curb and came to rest in a grassy area on the southeast corner of the intersection, she said.

In total there were six cars involved in the accident, four of them damaged so significantly that they had to be towed from the scene.

Two unidentified people were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of moderate injuries, Messina said.

The crash is being investigated by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Terry Warren.

"Please do not try to beat the light when you are approaching any intersection with an amber light," police said in the news release. "Follow the rules of the road, avoid distractions, and always be courteous when driving. We want everyone to get to their destination safely."

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.