Tries to evade cops, causes three-car crash, say Toms River police

A driver who apparently didn't want to be pulled to the roadside by police in Toms River ended up triggering a three-car crash and being hospitalized Monday, according to authorities.

Michele Morano, 28, of Toms River, and a school bus driver were hospitalized after the midafternoon collision on Route 37 near South Brookside Drive.

Bus driver Joanne Sandberg of Berkeley Township was treated for minor injuries at Community Medical Center while Morano was listed in stable condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

It began when Officer Ryan Parente activated his lights behind Morano's car on the side street, to look into alleged equipment violations and driving with a revoked license.

According to police, Morano said that instead of stopping, she accelerated in order to "get away," and "approached Route 37 and was going too fast to stop."

Investigators said Morano's car hurtled onto the highway and it a 2002 Ford pickup truck driven by Stephen Balogh of Toms River.

The impact forced the truck into the school bus in the adjacent lane, and both wound up on the grass center median, police said.

Police filed criminal charges of eluding an officer and assault by auto, along with road violations including lack of insurance, reckless driving, and failure to stop at an intersection.

Upon her release from hospitalization, Morano will be required to either post $25,000 bail, or occupy a spot in the Ocean County Jail to await a court appearance.