A 71 year old Toms River woman was killed in an accident on Route 70 in Toms River Saturday night that left the roadway closed for 3 hours.Chief Mike Mastronardy says 71 year old Jean McCarthy was killed when a westbound pickup truck driven by 28 year old Abel Hernandez of Lakewood collided head on with the van driven by her husband Ed McCarthy as he made a left turn at Massachusetts Avenue just after 7PM.

Jean McCarthy was taken to Kimball Medical Center where she was pronounced dead; Ed McCarthy was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where remains in serious condition.

Hernandez fled the scene but was found within an hour of the accident . He is being charged with being an unlicensed driver, reckless driving, death by auto, leaving the scene of an injury accident, and driving under the influence along with other motor vehicle charges. He is housed in the Ocean County Jail on $175,000 bail.

Hernandez is also being held on a detainer from ICE due to his illegal status.

Ironically, Mrs. McCarthy had just been involved in a minor accident at Routes 9 and 70. . In that accident Mrs. McCarthy struck the rear of a car that was being operated by a 73 year old Manchester Township woman who was slowing in traffic. Her husband came to scene of that non-injury accident to drive his wife home to their residence a mile down the road. They just left that accident when the fatal accident occurred ¼ mile down the road.

The accident remain under investigation.

 

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