Man Was Drunk, Unlicensed In Route 9 Crash: Toms River Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Lakewood man is facing multiple charges, including drunken driving, after a crash late Friday that shut down Cox Cro Road at Route 9 after he hit two utility poles, police said.

Hervin Moreno Lopez, 25, of Lakewood, told police he was driving south on Route 9 about 11:50 p.m. when he looked down to try to answer his cell phone, police said. As he did so, his car left the road and jumped the curb, hit a utility pole and broke through it, then hit a second utility pole, where it stopped, police said.

The investigation found Moreno Lopez was intoxicated at the time of the crash, police said. He refused medical attention at the scene and was arrested.

Moreno Lopez was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol; reckless driving; careless driving; failure to maintain lane; driving without license as he had never been licensed; operating with drugs in the vehicle; open container of alcohol in the vehicle; failure to possess registration; failure to possess insurance card, and a cell phone violation, police said.

His vehicle sustained serious damage and was towed from the scene. Jersey Central Power & Light responded to replace the utility poles and repair the damage.

The road was closed in both directions as a result of the crash, police said.

The crash is under investigation by Toms River Patrol Officer Anthony Mastrandrea.

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