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Four Injured in Head-On Crash

Bayville woman injured; a 17-year-old with a suspended license reportedly fell asleep behind the wheel, police say

 

A 17-year-old from Lakewood whose license is suspended was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, with a leg injury after the car he was driving collided with another head-on early Saturday morning, Toms River police say.

Anthony Wright Jr., 17, of Lakewood, was northbound on New Hampshire Avenue in a 1997 Nissan with Alfred Demby, 17, and Thomas Jalen, 18, both of Lakewood, when their car collided with a 2011 Honda driven by Laureen Coup, 43, of Bayville, who was southbound on New Hampshire Avenue, Chief Michael Mastronardy said. The accident happened near White Oak Bottom Road about 1:30 a.m., he said.

"Wright reported to Traffic Safety Corporal Sean McHugh  that he fell asleep as he was driving home," Mastronardy said, and Demby, who was in the front seat, confirmed that information. Demby told police he had been asleep in the front seat but woke up and realized Wright had fallen asleep and tried to wake him just before the accident happened, Mastronardy said.

Coup and an unidentified driver who witnessed the crash also told police that Wright's car crossed into Coup's lane.

Coup was taken to Community Medical Center by Toms River Police EMS, where she was treated and released, Mastronardy said. Demby was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of a broken arm.

Jalen, who had been in the back seat of Wright's car, walked away from the scene after the collision and was found walking along New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood by Officer Adam Koeppen, whom he told he was walking to the hospital. Jalen was taken to Kimball Medical Center by a Lakewood ambulance for treatment of a laceration under his eye.

Pleasant Plains and Silverton Fire companies extricated Wright from his car. The extent of his injuries are unknown. He has been charged with driving while suspended, reckless driving, provisional license violation and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Rick Molinia

2:05 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011

so the 17 yr old should not have been driving because he.. A: already has had his License Suspended.. , B: is not allowed to drive with more than 1 occupant due to age
dumba$$ should be brought to JAIL.. GEEZ atleast Rock Your SeatBelt if ur gonna drive w/ a suspended license!!!
and i love the story about the 3rd occupant who "escaped" on foot before the POLICE arrived!!.. then claims " he was walkin to the hospital!!" HAHAHA yea brother! nothin like a few MiLe HiKe after a car crash. Trusty officer McHugh is a veteran of the roads, so i trust him to uncover the Truth .

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Martin

2:52 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011

Teenagers asleep at 1:30 a.m. -- or high on something?

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Laci

5:09 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011

I hope the driver of the Honda sues the 17 year old drivers parents as their just as at fault.

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Mcdribby

3:09 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

"These people" kind of a bold statement to make considering you have no clue what you are talking about. Especially if you don't know if he's an actual illegal alien...

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No Name

7:45 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

NO MENTION WAS MADE BY ME OF ANY RACE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BN AS USUAL IS THE ONE THAT STARTED THAT THOUGHT!

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Michael Sean Feimer

11:42 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011

well towards BN they are not illegal...

john

6:48 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

i think noname is referring to teanagers.
hope the driver of the honda is ok.........the dumb 17 year old parents will be on the hook..even if he has his own insurance...just the way NJ law works. he s lucky to have run into a honda, imagine the outcome if it was a dump truck, garbage truck or even a pickup truck..........least a fatally or 2....oh and the 17 year old out past driver curfew also...guess that doesnt matter much being he was suspended already...

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Rachel Tomasi

7:28 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

I took out to mean people who have already proven they don't give a crap by driving when suspended already.

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No Name

7:43 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thank you Rachel. That is exactly what I meant, but people on here love to turn everything into something it is not. This kid had no regard for any rules regarding driving priveleges.

Mcdribby

8:23 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sorry for the confusion Im 100% on agreeance with you No Name. My comment was aimed towards BN's illegal immigrant comment.

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No Name

9:27 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thank you for your apology.

Martin

8:52 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

That Facebook comment should be part of the evidence in the case against them. Thanks, Jalen. Does "leaving the scene of a serious accident" apply to a passenger too? Jail'em!
This should be a good example to teach in all our schools.

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morrissey

10:08 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011

these pea brains are having a regular conversation like its just another day........the best "smoking gun" is the one dude looking forward to getting white boy trashed (think that means drunk) the day of the crash.....

anyway glad they are all right, they actually seem like cool dudes, stupid but cool

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Hearme

3:47 am on Monday, November 21, 2011

The most frustrating thing I find is when people make comments on a story and assumptions without the facts. I don't know all the circumstances of these kids being out. So how can people say the parents are just as much to blame? Kids do stupid things I bet if you are honest with yourself you can all think back to that age and remember a few stupid and maybe even dangerous things you did. Just because you might have gotten away with it or didn't hurt someone or even yourself it didn't make it less stupid.I definitely do not condone the actions of these kids. Especially the one driving. Technically, I believe he would be the only one braking the law. The others aren't breaking the law by being passengers. It is only illegal for the driver to be driving them at that age , at that time and with a suspended license.

As for the boy walking to the hospital.This will sound like BS to anyone that has never had this happen. I unfortunately have first hand knowledge of the fact that your mind does strange things under those types of circumstances.I used to think people made that up. It was explained to me as this. When you have something happen that your brain might perceives as to much to handle (for lack of a better way to word it.)it can block it or make you act in odd ways. Until it happens to you , you just can't say how you would react and everyone handles things in different ways.So don't judge until we know the whole story.

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Tracy

3:54 am on Monday, November 21, 2011

Ok; Call me an extremist; but I think the driving age should be raised to 20 even 21; there should not be "provisional licenses"; and for many years I have been told that there isn't any such thing.
Why is there provisional licenses for teens and not adults that have to drive to get to work to support their families?
I know adults that drive on the suspended list as well; some get caught; some don't. But how do you expect a 17 yr old to follow the rules; when adults as well as some authority figures; that don't follow the rules?
I'm not defending what he did; yes he could have got himself and someone else killed; How cool would you think these dudes are then?
Its been a long time since I have been a teen driver and at the time; we did not have the provisions that we have now from what I can tell most of the provisions are just stupid and unnecessary; One I do agree with though is the time restriction; at 17 you are legally still a minor and most boroughs and townships have curfews; so weather you're in a car or not; you should NOT be on the streets!
The one thing these teen drivers need to be taught is that the car is not a toy; driving is a HUGE responsibility. I think that as a parent of a 17 yr old; you should have final say over weather or not your child can have his/her license. You know your child best. It should NOT be that at 17 your entitled to it.

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Hearme

4:01 am on Monday, November 21, 2011

In regard to the graduated licence laws. There are some that make a lot of sense if you are being honest as well.Most are based on a young or new drivers inexperience and focus on making sure the driver focuses on what they should rather than the friends fooling around in the car or the ipod that has to have the song changed etc..It also gives the kid driving a very good reason to say "I can't drive you all to the movies at midnight or school in the morning". Its a out for kids that might feel pressured and can now say " its the law and I don't want to loose my licence". And a big thing that kids don't think about is that it also lowers the liability issues if you have less passengers in your car and have an accident. I do agree that some are a bit ridiculous . There are times that I have also witnessed what I would go as far as saying is harassment of young drivers by the police.Please understand that its not all or even most police officers but I have seen my share and it upsets me , especially as a parent. But that has nothing to do with this irresponsible driver in this story. He could have been thirty and still been irresponsible. He was driving with a suspended licence. He obviously doesn't have much respect for laws and feels they don't apply to him.

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Becky

9:10 am on Monday, November 21, 2011

PLEASANT PLAINS VOL. FIRST AID SQUAD TREATED AND TRANSPORTED L. COUP!! LET'S GET THE STORY STRAIGHT!

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