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Crime & Safety

Police Vehicle Struck While En Route to Accident on Route 37

A Toms River woman was injured in the first crash, police vehicle struck during response

A Toms River woman was taken to Community Medical Center after her car was pushed into the back of a minivan by a flatbed tow truck on westbound Route 37 shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday, police said.

Amy Gajewski, 38, was injured when her 2002 Toyota was struck by a flatbed tow truck driven by Jack Brown, 19, and pushed into the back of a 2000 Chevy minivan driven by Francis Martinez, 36, of Toms River, after traffic stopped for the signal at the intersection of Routes 37 and 166, according to Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. Brown was in the middle lane and told police he was unable to stop in time, Mastronardy said.

Gajewski was taken to Community Medical Center by Toms River Police EMS.

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Traffic Safety Officer Terry Warren issued a summons for careless driving to Brown, Mastronardy said. Neither Brown nor Martinez were reported to have injuries. That accident closed two lanes of Route 37 at 166 while the accident was investigated, snarling traffic for an hour.

The second accident occurred a few blocks east of the first one. Mastronardy said Traffic Safety Officer Frank Palino was westbound on the shoulder of Route 37, en route to the first accident, with the emergency lights active on his patrol unit when he collided with the 2011 Hyundai driven by Henry Bucco, 40, of Toms River. Bucco was attempting a right turn onto Everett Street to avoid the traffic backup from the initial accident and reported he did not see Officer Palino’s marked unit when he attempted the turn.

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After taking evasive action to avoid a major collision, Officer Palino’s unit struck a utility pole guidewire.

Neither Palino nor Bucco were injured in that accident. Sergeant Guy Maire is investigating the second accident, Mastronardy said.

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