11-month old in ICU, Jackson woman critical after crashes in Howell and Toms River

A pair of car accidents at the Jersey Shore Thursday have both resulted in critical injuries.

Howell Police say 18-year old Jordan Johnson of Neptune was in a 2014 Cadillac SRX that he drove into oncoming traffic northbound on State Highway 34 between the Route 33/34 interchange and the Colts Neck border and struck a 2018 Nissan Rogue head-on which was driven by 41-year old Eliza Colon of Sayreville around 11:15 am.

An off duty Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer Patrick Luke and two off duty New Jersey State Troopers, Detective Condron and Trooper Meehan stopped to render aid and immediately began CPR on an 11 month old infant who was a passenger in the Nissan Rogue.

The 11-month old was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he remains in the ICU.

An 11-year old girl in the Nissan suffered a minor injury to her right arm.

There are no other injuries being reported at this time.

The crash remains under investigation by the Howell Township Police Department, and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis and Response Team (SCART).

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Patrolman Matthew Cherney of the Howell Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 732-938-4575 extension 2629.

In Toms River, a Bayville man caused a three car crash when he veered across Whitesville Road near Cleveland Street and struck two cars consecutively around 4:50 pm.

Police say Richard Solari, 67, was driving southbound in a 2017 Ram pickup when he crossed over into the northbound lane and struck the driver's side of a 2014 Hyundai Elantra driven by Irene Firestone, 67, of Jackson.

Solari then hit a 2016 Ford van driven by Yisroel Eizikovitz, 26, of Lakewood.

Firestone was trapped in her car and had to be extricated by Pleasant Plains Fire Department.

She was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.

Solari was rescued from his overturned truck with minor injuries and transported to Community Medical Center.

Eizikovitz was not injured.

Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officers Terry Warren, Adam Koeppen, and PJ Gambardella are investigating the crash.

Preliminary investigation reveals no apparent impairment however a blood sample was taken from Solari.

The investigation is ongoing as to the cause of the accident, and no charges have been made at this time.

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