One Dead, One Critical in Plumsted Crash

A horrendous crash involving a car and a fully-loaded dump truck in Plumsted this morning leaves a Florida 81-year-old dead and his wife in critical condition.

Robert Sauer of Fort Myers died instantly when his Ford Flex collided with the tri-axel rig at the intersection of Routes 537 and 539, say Ocean County investigators.

The truck driven by Elijah Vandemark, 49, of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, was loaded with sand. It is registered to Green Outlook Trucking of Rockaway, New Jersey.

The impact caused the truck to topple onto the car. Sauer's wife Marilyn, 78, was in the front passenger seat. She was rushed to Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton.

Vandemark escaped without serious injury, authorities say. He agreed to provide a blood sample for testing.

Investigators believe that Vandemark was headed north on Route 539, approaching the 537 intersection. Sauer was northbound on 537, turning left onto 539. The truck slammed the car on the driver's side.

No summonses have been issued but investigators would like to speak with witnesses in their efforts to nail down the details.

The probe is being led by PlumstedPolice Sergeant Robert Pintye, 609-758-3738; and by Detective Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, 732-929-2027.