UPDATE! Route 9 Reopens After 12 Hour Closure

Route 9 has been reopened in  both directions after being closed for just over 12 hours when a a man who swerved to avoid a deer on Route 9 in Toms River early Thursday morning brought down a utility pole.

Toms River Police say Michael Goldsmith,  48 of Jackson Township was northbound on Route 9 in a 2008 Ford Ranger when he tried to avoid a deer that ran into the roadway.  Neither Goldsmith or his passenger Alfred Solheim , 33 of Jackson were injured in the accident that occurred just 12:20 am Thursday morning.

The road was closed in both directions from Church Road to Sunset Avenue until around 1PM on Thursday afternoon as utility crews repaired the broken pole.