DUI Charge For Toms River Woman As Crash Starts Brush Fires: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River woman has been charged with driving while intoxicated after a crash Monday night where she hit a utility pole on Church Road, knocking out power and causing three fires, police said Tuesday.

Deborah J Camiscoli-Spedick, 70, was driving west on Church Road about 11:30 p.m. Monday when she failed to negotiate a curve and hit the pole near the intersection with Silverton Road, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

The pole cracked at the base and fell, bringing down power lines that caused three separate sections of brush next to the road to catch fire, Messina said.

The power lines damaged were primary lines, and that caused power outages in the area that affected multiple traffic signals, she said.

Toms River police and firefighters responded, and the fires were extinguished. Members of Silverton EMS responded to the scene and attempted to aid Camiscoli-Spedick, but she refused medical attention, Messina said.

The vehicle was towed from the scene and Camiscoli-Spedick was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, she said. She also was issued traffic citations for reckless driving and careless driving.

The accident is under investigation by Patrolman Kevin McDermott