5 crashes, 6 cars, 3 treated, 12 charges for 1 driver in Stafford

Six cars are damaged and three people are given hospital treatment in five direct and collateral hit-and-runs in Stafford. Police tied them all to one driver and filed 12 charges.

Veronica Belluscio, 41, of Manahawkin, is accused of triggering last Wednesday's crashes on Route 9 during the afternoon rush hour.

On February 24, officers received a report of a red Mustang slamming two cars in rapid succession, then taking off, at the intersection of HIlliard Boulevard.

A short while later, at about 4:50 PM, they were dispatched to another collision at the Oxycoccus Road junction, also involving a red Mustang. Police said it lost a tire, and kept on going, on three tires and a rim.

Police said they soon found Belluscio's 2000 Ford Mustang, smoke pouring from under the hood, on Willow Court, where she resides.

After finding the car and Belluscio, police charged her with one count each of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, resisting arrest, plus three counts of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and two counts of improper passing.

The crashes at Oxycoccus involved a 2016 Lexus Rx3 driven by Wendy A. Tomasello, 49, of Manahawkin. Police said the Mustang then pushed into a 2005 Honda CRV driven by Diana M. Dabrowski, 62, of West Creek.

One of the Hilliard Boulevard collisions involved a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Lindsay Hoosack 32, of Barnegat, who was treated for neck pain at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin. Her children, age 3 and nine months, were also examined at SOMC.

Police said the car then pushed into a 2011 Lincoln Mkz driven by Amy Fence, 43, of Manahawkin, and collided with a 2005 GMC Savannah driven by Richard Coffman, 69, of Manahawkin.

Belluscio was released to await a municipal court appearance. Stafford emergency medical stafers and volunteer firefighters assisted Patrolman Erik Smithman, who conducted the arrest.