46 Crashes, 5 DUI Arrests In Toms River Over Memorial Day Weekend

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River police responded to nearly 1,000 calls for assistance over Memorial Day weekend, including 46 calls involving motor vehicle accidents, the police department said Wednesday.

But there were no arrests of juveniles on the first weekend of the barrier island curfew put in place to curtail rowdy behavior by kids, the police department said.

There were 974 calls for service across the township, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Those included the motor vehicle crashes, which Messina said ranged from parking lot fender benders to a minor motorcycle crash on Route 37 on Monday.

In that crash, a motorcyclist was waiting on the side of Route 37 near Charles Drive for friends about 2 p.m. As they approached, he tried to pull back onto the road but lost control of the motorcycle, she said.

To avoid a collision, he laid his motorcycle down, she said. The motorcyclist was treated at the scene by Toms River First Aid but the man declined to be taken to the hospital, Messina said.

There were five people arrested on charges of driving under the influence, Messina said.

The curfew requires kids under age 18 to be off the streets on the barrier island from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. Those out past the curfew must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, with limited exceptions for kids who are working.

The curfew, under an order signed by Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little, is in place until Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian or an adult caretaker when they are out after 10 p.m. unless they are traveling to or from jobs, doing an errand at the direction of an adult, or involved with activities protected by the First Amendment.

Violators will be given two warnings to disburse before being detained, at which time their parents, guardians or adult caretakers will be contacted for "appropriate actions," officials said.