Brick car accident that slowed Monday traffic may be tied to hit-and-run

A car accident that shut down a section of Route 70 in Brick on Monday morning may be tied to a hit-and-run collision that had occurred earlier near the Home Depot.

Brick Police Officers responded to the area of Route 70 eastbound between Brick Boulevard and Route 88 around 5:30 am on Monday for a head-on collision that had occurred on the highway.

The police investigation revealed that Mark Ferrell, 35, of Toms River was driving a 2018 black Audi A6 westbound on Route 70 on the opposite (eastbound) side of the divided highway.

This led to a head-on collision with a 2020 blue Volvo XC4, operated by Mark Valle, 28, of Brick causing Valle’s vehicle to rotate and crash into a 2004 black GMC Sierra operated by Patrick McElroy, 56, of Toms River.

All three drivers were transported to the hospital (Ferrell to Jersey Shore, Valle and McElroy to Ocean Medical) for non-life-threatening injuries.

Ferrell had to be extricated from his vehicle by members of Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose and Laurelton Fire companies who responded to the scene.

The victims were treated and transported by members of the Brick Police EMS unit.

As a result, Route 70 eastbound was closed for several hours but has since been re-opened to traffic.

Brick Police said that they are looking into a possible connection to a separate, earlier hit-and-run crash which occurred on Route 70 westbound in the area of the Home Depot.

Minor injuries were reported in that crash.

Both crashes are being investigated by Sgt. Keith Donnelly and Ptl. Jay Lampiasi of the Brick Township Traffic Safety Unit.

Anyone who may have witnessed either crash are asked to contact Sgt. Donnelly or Lampiasi at 732-262-1140.

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