By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ.
A loud crash was heard in the neighborhood, across Firemen’s Park, at the intersection of Main Avenue and Delaware Avenue. An eyewitness said she heard what sounded like an “explosion.” A crowd formed, and the police and rescue squads were quickly at the scene.
Evidently the Jeep had entered the intersection from Delaware Avenue headed north. The Mercedes sports car was coming east on Main. The Jeep driver looked west and saw the Mercedes coming at him.
The collision occurred with the Mercedes clobbering the Jeep in the rear, connecting in such a way that the Jeep flipped onto its side. A witness saw the Jeep slowly roll over.
The driver of the Jeep was trapped at first, and a crowd gathered around looking to help. But the NTPD spoke to the driver and got him to open the rear hatch so that he could crawl out.
The Mercedes had New York plates, and the Jersey Jeep was from out of town as well.
A Neptune police officer told our source that the fault might be with the Jeep driver even though he was already in the intersection when he was hit.
The Mercedes driver evidently wasn’t paying sufficient attention to the car in the intersection. We don’t know how fast either vehicle was going.
The two passengers in the Mercedes were taken to the hospital with possible head injuries. The Jeep driver had a dog in the car with him, and after climbing out the back of his vehicle he busied himself by comforting his dog.
Later he said that he would take himself to the hospital. The scene was quickly cleared by the NTPD.
Those of us who live in the Grove know about the bad drivers who are often visitors. They are unfamiliar with the speed limits and the treacherous corners. Diagonal parking creates dangerous situations, and stop signs all over the place are confusing sometimes when combined with our one way streets.
We all have witnessed horrible drivers going the wrong way on one way streets, turning corners too fast, and failing to go slow and be courteous.
A Grover who walks his dog in the early morning darkness says that he sees white vans regularly coming east on Main at high speeds.
The town of Ocean Grove is especially hazardous for driving, walking or biking in season, and September is still in season. And combine that with our parking wars. This weekend there will be another Chamber of Commercials useless tourist-bait events.
Why is Neptune paying with taxpayer dollars for promos to encourage tourism for the CC, a private money-making organization ?
This weekend they will close downtown so that we can have a harvest festival. Excuse me, but there is nothing to harvest in the Grove other than tourists with nothing else to do but annoy we the people.
The Chamber of Commerce should be banned from shutting our streets and having useless events. Give us back out town!! They can move their harvest festival to some weed loaded lot in Neptune.
I often walk on Delaware Ave., and often see drivers speeding down the road. I worry about the bicyclists and pedestrians getting run over because with those speeds, turns and blind spots, there would be zero time to avoid a collision.
One frustrating thing is the complete absence of a police presence in the Grove to ticket people speeding. I have lived here ten years and have never seen a police car parked on Main Street or any other street with a radar and a ticket book.
I only see them, often two cars abreast, parked next to the Seven Eleven chatting. I don’t know why that is even a strategic location, or if being parked there yields any citations for wrongdoing.
The final decision is the insurance company CO’s. The police can offer opinions, but don’t settle the claim. Ins. co’s take reports from their insureds and examine the police Rrport.
It’s very helpful with today’s technology that cell phones can document the scene.
I was a Claim Manager for an Ins Broker for 10 years and handled hundreds of auto accident claims. It was never a dull moment!
And, no matter how minor, always get a police report. It is your document of fact. You are, according to the rules, instructed to notify your Ins Co. of any accident. Trust me on that.
In this particular accident it appears that the Jeep went thru the stop sign on Delaware. A definite factor.
Also, insurance companies include the point of contact when finding fault. The Mercedes rammed the rear panel of the Jeep that was already in the intersection. There was probably speeding involved and careless driving as well.
A lot of contributing factors come into play when settling a claim.
I hope the injuries weren’t too severe.
Editor’s note: The Mercedes driver had some blood on his shirt, but he stayed at the scene after the paramedics checked him and he spoke to the police. So he didn’t seem to be severely injured, but he supposedly did go to the ER.
The Jeep driver appeared to be OK since he stayed at the scene waiting for a ride. He was chatting with onlookers and caring for his dog.
As far as fault, the police may have a different view of the situation than the insurance company. Don’t forget that New Jersey is a “no fault” state, so all medical bills will be paid by the insurance companies.
Sometimes these matters wind up in the courts if any of the parties decides to sue somebody for pain, suffering,and disability. PG