Lighthouse Christian Worship Center Damaged in DWI-Related Accident

A motor vehicle accident in the morning’s early hours has left two local men injured and one church building with significant damage.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. this morning, a 2007 Mazda operated by Lanoka Harbor resident Randy Rozell was traveling on Route 9, in the vicinity of Bay Way. At that time, police reported, the vehicle left the roadway, became airborne, and collided with the , which is located at the corner of Route 9 and Bay Way. The church was left with “extensive damage” in the crash, according to authorities.

Rozell was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for evaluation of head injuries, in addition to being charged with DWI and numerous other motor vehicle violations. Rozell’s passenger, 22-year-old Robert Plaschke of Forked River, also suffered head injuries in the accident and was similarly transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, for evaluation by their trauma unit.

Assisting at the scene were the Lanoka Harbor Fire Department and Lanoka Harbor First Aid Squad. Also responding were the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Ptl. Robert Flynn of the Lacey Township Police Department is currently investigating the crash.

Patch will have an update on this story later today.