Victim in Fatal Route 9 Accident Identified

Toms River police say the pedestrian who was struck and killed Sunday night on Route 9 in Toms River was crossing the roadway against a traffic signal and was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.

The 9:27 p.m. accident happened near the intersection of Route 9 and Clover Road, said police spokesman Ralph Stocco. There, a man identified as Joseph Oconnell Jr., 72, of Roberts Road in Toms River, was declared dead at the scene.

Stocco said an investgation by police showed Oconnell was crossing the roadway against his designated pedestrian signal and was not in the designated crosswalk when he was struck by a 2004 Jeep Wrangler being driven by Christopher Baron, 18, of Ruby Drive in Toms River. Baron had a green light at the time of the accident.

Neither Baron nor his passenger, Michael Rourke, 19, of Seaside Park, were injured.

Traffic was detoured for several hours and Route 9 was closed in both directions between Route 70 and North Maple Avenue while the investigation continued overnight.

Charges are not expected to be filed against the driver of the Jeep, Stocco said.

Toms River Traffic Officers David Bartoshek and Mark Nater are leading the investigation with assistance from Ocean County Prosecutors Detective Craig Ally and detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigative Unit.