DWI Charged In Route 37 Crash That Brought Down Traffic Signals

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Manchester Township man is facing charges of drunken driving after a Route 37 crash early Monday that took down two traffic signals and left his SUV in flames, Toms River police said.

Kristofer I. Coltenback, 43, was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and violation of the governor’s executive order on non-essential travel following the crash that happened shortly after 3 a.m., said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Coltenback was west on Route 37 when he swerved left and hit the median near Peter Avenue. After his Ford Explorer hit the median, it kept going west, hitting and knocking down one traffic signal, then through the intersection where he hit another median and a second traffic signal, she said.

The impact of hitting the second traffic signal sent the Explorer across the eastbound lanes of Route 37 and it finally came to a stop in the exit ramp for Batchelor Avenue off Route 37, Messina said.

When police arrived they found Coltenback standing outside the SUV, which was completely engulfed in flames. It was completely destroyed, she said. Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2 responded to put out the fire.

The repairs on the two traffic signal stanchions resulted in Route 37 being closed eastbound from Clifton Avenue to the intersection of Peter Avenue and Batchelor Street for several hours on Monday.

The accident is being investigated by Traffic Safety Officer PJ Gambardella. Coltenback’s vehicle was impounded as a per John's Law.

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