Pet Cat In Car Causes Crash, Power Outage Results

Toms River Police said a vehicle crash into a utility pole and resulting power outage can be traced back to one jumpy cat.

Around 8:30 p.m. June 26, a 2003 Cadillac swerved off the road and struck a utility pole and tree at Old Freehold Road and Whitty, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy.

Janelle Lewis, 25, of Jackson and her cat were inside the vehicle, said the police chief.

Mastronardy said Lewis blamed the cat for causing the accident.

"Janelle reported as she was driving her cat jumped on the floor on the driver’s side causing her to lose control of the car," Mastronardy said.

While neither Lewis nor the cat had any reported injuries, the crash damaged the utility pole, creating a power outage, said the police chief.

One resident reported to Toms River Patch that apartments near Bey Lea Road in Toms River were affected by the power outage shortly before 9 p.m. yesterday.

Traffic was impacted for approximately two hours as emergency responders and utility crews addressed the crash and utility pole.

Mastronardy estimated electric was effected for about two hours until utility workers could repair the pole.