Driver Runs Stop Sign, Hits Vehicle, House In Toms River; Woman Seriously Injured

reTOMS RIVER, NJ — A Florence man has been charged with careless driving after crashing his vehicle into a home on Fischer Boulevard and injuring his passenger on Friday night, Toms River police said.

Steven Lecates, 23, received citations for careless driving, disregard of a stop sign, and failure to possess an insurance card, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

A woman who was his passenger had to be extricated from the car suffered injuries to her legs and abdomen and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment, Messina said.

Lecates was driving east on Adams Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Friday when he failed to stop at stop sign and crashed into a vehicle that was being driven north on Fischer Boulevard, Messina said.

The impact turned Lecates’ car and it hit several large decorative stones on the front yard of a house on the corner, pushing one into the house before the car came to a stop, she said.

The homeowners were home at the time, but were not injured. Lecates' passenger had to be extricated by members of the Toms River Fire companies before she was taken to the hospital, Messina said.

An inspector from the Toms River Building Department responded to the scene to ensure the home was structurally safe.

The accident remains under investigation by Toms River Police Officer Eric Nelson, she said.