Woman Charged With Reckless Driving After Crash Brings Down Route 37 Traffic Signal: PD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River woman has been charged with reckless driving and other offenses after she hit a stopped car, injuring the driver, and brought down a traffic signal on Route 37 on Tuesday, police said.

Daniella Ippolitto, 36, was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment following the crash that happened about 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Route 37 and Hooper Avenue, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Ippolitto was driving west on Route 37 "at a high rate of speed" when she lost control of her SUV while changing lanes, Messina said.

She hit a vehicle that was stopped for a red light at the intersection and then hit a traffic signal, bringing down the signal and closing one of the eastbound lanes of Route 37, she said.

The 19-year-old man in the stopped vehicle suffered minor injuries, Messina said.

Ippolitto received citations for careless driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to keep right, and reckless driving, she said.

The crash remains under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Ryan Fitzgerald.