Detour, Utility Work From Crash Still Impacting Route 37

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- (Updated 3:45 p.m.) Officials are asking motorists to continue to avoid the area of Route 37 east near West End Avenue as replacement of a utility pole broken in Thursday morning’s crash continues.

A Nixle alert said the intersection will remain shut down for the next “12-16 hours” as repair work continues.

The crash brought down a utility pole and wires, officials said.

Jersey Central Power & Light told Toms River officials that about 125 homes in the area will be without power until the repairs are completed.

(Updated 1 p.m.) Route 37 eastbound in the area of Vaughn Avenue is expected to have one lane open to traffic by about 2 p.m., according to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

A Nixle alert issued at 12:45 p.m. said one eastbound lane would reopen in “approximately” one hour, but the road will be limited to one lane eastbound in the area through Friday afternoon.

PREVIOUSLY: Route 37 eastbound remains closed as of 8:30 a.m. between Washington Street and Vaughn Avenue due to a crash that broke a utility pole, according to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

All traffic is being detoured due to downed wires and the pole, according to 511nj.org.

The crash happened about 5:30 a.m. according to the Toms River Police Department, when a Jeep left the road and hit the pole.

A photo provided by Patch reader Gary Pino of Toms River shows the Jeep on its side not long after the accident occurred. Two photos from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department have been added.