Three-way crash on Route 72 bridge under investigation

The drivers in Saturday's three-way crash that tied up traffic in and out of Long Beach Island for more than an hour escape serious injury. However, Stafford Township police say summonses are pending results of their investigation.

The collision on the last span approaching LBI was reported at 3:23 PM, police said, noting that traffic leaving the island was very heavy as revelers of the just-completed Ship Bottom Christmas Parade were heading to the mainland.

Traffic slowed through a construction zone that allowed only one lane of travel in each direction. As Kimberley Hogan of Long Beach Township began to brake her BMW sport-utility vehicle, Lance Elias of Langhorne, PA attempted to do the same behind her, in a Ford F-150 pulling a 21-foot boat.

Unable to reach a full stop, Elias served left, glancing Hogan's SUV at the rear bumper and spinning the vehicle perpendicular to traffic. The pickup continued into oncoming traffic, hitting a Subaru SUV, driven by Eileen Kane of Tuscon, AZ, head-on, police said.

Unable to reach the spot through construction and congestion, Stafford police prevailed on Beach Haven first-aiders and Ship Bottom firefighters to respond.

All three drivers refused medical attention, but two passengers in Elias's pickup were brought to Southern Ocean Medical Center for evaluation, police said.

Anyone familiar with the incident, especially witnesses, are urged to call Stafford PD Patrolman Kunder, 609-597-1189, extension 8450.