Five Injured In Chain Reaction Accident On Route 72 Bridge in Manahawkin

A chain reaction accident on the Route 72 Causeway bridge at the height of the holiday weekend injured five people and backed up traffic for over an hour, Stafford Townsip Lt. James R. Vaughn said.

The accident happened at 10:17 a.m. on July 3 on Route 72, near mile marker 28, he said.

Preliminary investigation revealed an Mazda SUV driven by Alyssa Kelly, 25, Franklinville, NJ, was traveling east on Route 72 approaching mile post 28 just over the newly constructed bridge. As Long approached stopped traffic, she struck a Lexus SUV driven by Dennis Long, 48, Emerson. The chain reaction also involved three other stopped vehicles. The third was a Honda SUV, driven by Jeffrey Pane, 41, Hillsborough, a Ford SUV driven by Nancy Deferrari, 55, Lanoka Harbor. The fifth vehicle involved was a Toyota Sedan, driven by Randy Abramson, 45, Silver Spring, Maryland, Vaughn said.

All three had to be towed from the scene.

Ms. Kelly, Mr. Long, Mrs. Long, a front passenger in the Lexus SUV, one male and one female juvenile, who were rear passengers in the Lexus SUV were all injured and were taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center. Traffic on Route 72 was redirected around the scene for approximately an hour.

Alyssa Kelly received a summons for careless driving. She has a future court date in Stafford Township Municipal Court, Vaughn said.

Patrolman Jillson is the investigating officer. The Ship Bottom Police Department, Long Beach Township Police Department, Stafford Township Volunteer EMS and Ship Bottom EMS all assisted.

Image: Stafford Township Police Department