A Toms River fire truck was involved in an four-vehicle accident Friday evening while responding to a call, Toms River police reported Saturday.
According to police, a fire truck operated by Bradford Kadubic was traveling northbound on Hooper Avenue at approximately 6:06 p.m. with its lights and sirens activated when it struck a similarly northbound traveling vehicle operated by 86-year-old Toms River resident Holley Simmons near the intersection of College Drive.
Simmons, driving a 2003 Toyota, then made contact with two other vehicles also traveling northbound in the right lane of Hooper Avenue. The identities of the other drivers were not released in a brief police statement on the incident.
The fire truck received minor damage in the accident, the right side of its front fender taking the brunt of the damage, according to photographs submitted to Patch by the police department.
No one was injured in the accident, police said, and the incident is currently being investigated by Traffic Safety Officer Brian Doyle. It was unclear if any summonses were issued immediately following the accident.
86 year old....come on. She shouldn't be on the road in the first place!
The laws of New Jersey require motorists to keep to the right, except when passing. Motorists must drive on the right half of the roadway unless driving on a one-way street. Motorists must drive a vehicle as close as possible to the right- hand edge or curb of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-82) On a multi-lane roadway, motorists must drive in the lane nearest to the right- hand edge or curb of the roadway when the lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-88) Most passing should be on the left. Passing on the right is allowed only on roads with more than one lane going in the same direction, if vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines or when the motorist ahead is making a left turn and there is room to pass. NEVER PASS ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. This is against the law. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-85)
Yes, get the heck out of the way, but still the emergency vehicle operator is responsible to operate in a safe manner. He is not immune from any laws or liability because he was responding to another false CO2 alarm. Any competent first responder knows that people cannot hear you today with well insulated, sound proof cabins on modern vehicles, along with cell phones and headphones not to mention sound systems. In this case it was an elderly woman who does not have the reaction time and speed. The fire truck driver was a volly who we know nothing about, but if he fits the mold of fire guys I am certain he is no rocket scientist. Fire Foamers unite...Have the laws changed so that when the red lights and sirens are on no one can disturb your pleasuring session.
Our fire department is wonderful, our library is wonderful, garbage collection is fine, my kids education is fine. Obviously your beef is something "we don't give a rats crap about"
Someone is to blame in every instance. If there is no blame then let's all drink up and drive, if we kill someone then nothing should happen to us. It amazes me that so many people on these boards are so wishy washy with making a decision.
If he is to blame the so be it. Are you not amazed that people on here still do not believe an investigations results. Does it answer the question why guilty people are found innocent and walk like the mother in Florida who murdered her young daughter and is now a rock star on the talk circuit soon to release a book.
Perhaps patch should publish these in their paper.
If the woman was at fault I gaurantee you all the volly fire guys would be screaming wholly terror about how they put their lives on the line for us and this woman almost killed them yada yada.... They would not tolerate her being given a break.
Having fire protection is just as important as a book. Change the vote to November and politics will get involved. Politics have no place in saving lives