Bicyclist Critical; Man Charged With DWI In Toms River Crash: PD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River bicyclist remained in critical condition Monday following a hit-and-run crash where police say the driver who hit him was intoxicated.

Vicente Guzman, 37, of Toms River, remained in critical but stable condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where he was flown following the crash that happened about 8:50 p.m. on Sunday, said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Guzman was riding his bicycle east on James Street Sunday evening when he was hit head-on by a vehicle driven by Anthony Cipolletti, 29, of Bayville. Guzman landed in the eastbound lane of James Street.

Cipolletti, who was driving west, stopped briefly but then took off without reporting the crash; his vehicle had damage to the front end and windshield, Messina said. About 20 minutes later, however, Cipolletti came back to the scene of the crash, on the way to his next destination, she said.

It was then that Cipolletti was arrested.

He has been charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries, failure to report an accident, having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, driving with a suspended license, being an unlicensed driver, and other summonses, Messina said.

The accident is being investigated by Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officer Robert Westfall.

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