This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

47-year-old Woman Dies After One-Vehicle Accident on Main Street

Traffic detoured as police and firefighters worked to free occupant

Police say a 47-year-old Toms River woman died due to injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident on Main Street in downtown Toms River around 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said the driver, Heather Heck, of the Silver Ridge Apartments, while heading south, crossed into the northbound lane and struck a utility pole and tree near Walton Street.

Portions of Main Street in downtown Toms River were closed while emergency responders tended to the victim, who was trapped inside her vehicle.

Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Firefighters from Toms River fire companies 1 and 2 extricated the victim  from the vehicle.

According to a press release from Toms River Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy, the woman was driving south on Main Street when she, for unknown reasons, crossed Main Street and struck a utility pole and tree.

Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Toms River Police EMS transported Heck to Community Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m., according to the police press release.

During the extrication, Main Street traffic was closed in both directions from Dayton to Washington.

Toms River Police recommended that people avoid that area of Main Street into Saturday evening while utility employees repair the pole that was damaged in the accident.

According to the police press release, Traffic Sergeant Chris Dudzik, Terry Warren, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office were investigating the cause of the accident. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.