Investigations Ongoing for Route 9 Collisions

The two accidents that occurred on Thursday, May 10, at the intersection of Route 9 and Lakeside Drive South, , are still under investigation, Lt. Scott Tirella said.

“Because of the nature of them, they’re not complete,” Tirella said. Since the investigations are continuing, Tirella could not say whether charges, if any, would be pressed.

That day, two were taken to the hospital for injuries, including Martin.

Police responded to a three-car collision at approximately 5:48 a.m., he said. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2011 Subaru driven by Justin Gartley, 26, of Barnegat was traveling south on Route 9 when it left the lane and struck two vehicles traveling north.

A 2003 Hyundai driven by Robin Doyle, 40, of Barnegat and a 1997 Ford driven by Gregory Doscher Jr., 23, of Barnegat were struck. Doyle and Doscher received minor injuries, Resetar said.

Gartley was extricated from his vehicle by the Forked River Fire Department and flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with serious injuries, he said. Gartley was discharged that same day, said Maureen Gillespie, spokesperson for the hospital.

Witnesses to the aftermath of the accident scene said they saw a white pickup truck resting inside the passenger side of a red sedan, and a white SUV wrapped around a pole in front of Odd-It Tees, 405 S. Main Street.

Following the initial accident, Route 9 was closed to traffic and Martin, 65, of Forked River was directing traffic at the intersection of Route 9 and Lakeside Drive South when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Kirsten Cicardo, 18, of Forked River, Resetar said.

Cicardo was turning north on Route 9 from Lakeside Drive South at approximately 6:54 a.m. when she struck Martin, who was in the southbound lane on Route 9, just in front of the stop line, he said. Martin was dressed in his uniform, safety vest and traffic gloves.

Martin was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for head and lower extremity injuries. He was released from the hospital after being treated, Resetar said.

As of Tuesday, May 15 Martin was not back at work, Lt. James Veltri said. Police Chief William Nally did not return calls to comment on Martin’s condition or whether or not he has since returned to the police department.