Minivan Falls On Man’s Chest During Brake Work

Toms River Police have had their hands full already this week with a slew of freak accidents and vehicle related thefts, starting with a man injured while fixing the brakes of his minivan.

Chief Mike Mastronardy says the incident occurred around 11 a.m. Monday at the Park Ridge Apartment Complex on Walnut Street.  The victim is being identified as William Prince, who was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with multiple chest injuries.

The heroes of the day, Erik Kelly, Brian Hock, and Jonathan Pasquarelli, witnessed the accident and were able to re-install the jack and save Prince from being crushed by the van.

In a separate incident, around 2:30 p.m., police responded to single car crash on Church Road.  Mastronardy says 25 year old Stephanie Surgent from Freehold was heading west when her car struck a tree. Surgent is being charged with DWI.

Like it was written in a script,  a freak accident was reported at 3 p.m.  Police responded to a home on Dickinson Avenue, where a 60 year old man cut his thumb on a table saw.  The victim was transported to Community Medical Center.

The day's drama did not end there either.   Around 4 p.m., reports came in about a 45 year old Bayville man severely cutting his leg on a Makita Diamond edge saw. Police say the victim was cutting stone at a residence on Third Avenue in Ortley Beach.  He was also taken to Community Medical Center for treatment.

And if you thought that was enough madness for Monday, don't forget about the rash of vehicle related thefts that are currently under investigation.

A 2000 Chevy Blazer was stolen from a parking lot on Route 9 sometime during the last week. The Blazer was left unlocked and the keys were left in the vehicle.

Police are also investigating separate thefts of a GPS from an unlocked car on Gilford Road.  Two wallets and a cell phone were taken from a vehicle on Haines Cove Road between 2-4 p.m.  Also a catalytic converter was stolen from a van belonging to MMS Medical Route 37.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.