Crashes Snarl Traffic, Knock Out Toms River Police Phones, Power To Hundreds

TOMS RIVER, NJ — If you're driving through Toms River on Friday afternoon, bring an extra helping of patience: a pair of crashes are creating havoc on the roads.

A crash on Hooper Avenue that brought down a utility pole has knocked out electrical service to more than 3,500 homes and multiple traffic signals, according to Jersey Central Power and Light.

In addition, the Toms River Police Department said its main telephone lines were down. Emergency calls to 911 are working, police said.

A second crash, on Main Street downtown, has closed that road, causing traffic tie-ups downtown.

Police are urging motorists to find alternate routes and to exercise added caution because of the traffic detours around the crash sites.

Hooper Avenue is closed from Indian Hill Road to Fischer Boulevard in both directions, and Main Street is closed from Highland Parkway to Colfax Street as of 3 p.m.