Driver Dies After Car Flips, Lands In Marsh In Toms River: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man died early Saturday when his car crashed and flipped into a marsh off Hooper Avenue, police said.

Paolo Helfers-Lariva, 28, was pronounced dead at Community Medical Center in Toms River after he was freed from his car, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Two passengers in his car were not injured and were able to free themselves, Messina said.

The crash happened about 2:25 a.m. near the intersection of Hooper Avenue and South Shore Drive, she said.

The initial investigation showed Helfers-Lariva's car was traveling south on Hooper Avenue at a high rate of speed when he lost control, Messina said. The car left the road, hit a pole and then flipped and landed in the marsh, she said.

Multiple police officers went into the water to try to free him, she said; Silverton EMS and the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company helped get Helfers-Lariva out of the car and performed CPR, Messina said.

He died in spite of extensive efforts to save his life, she said.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Department CSI Unit also assisted. Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Cpl. Terry Warren is investigating.