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Crash Brings Down Wires, Starts Fire
After a collision on Monday evening that brought down a power pole, sparked a fire, and caused traffic disruption that persisted into the middle of Tuesday, a Little Egg Harbor lady has been charged with careless driving.
Denise McKinnon, 43, struck a utility pole while traveling west on Lakehurst Road near Route 37 at around 7:30 p.m., according to Jillian Messina, a media relations specialist for the
Toms River Police Department.According to Messina, the impact snapped the utility pole, causing live wires to fall to the ground and create a brush fire that resulted in damage to the property at 591 Lakehurst Road.
She said JCP&L shut off the electricity to the wires so that firefighters from Toms River and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service could put out the fire.
Workers replaced the power pole throughout the night and into the middle of Tuesday, closing the ramp from Route 37 to Lakehurst Road and reducing traffic on Lakehurst Road to Route 37.
At the scene, McKinnon declined medical attention. According to Messina, she received citations for lane failure and careless driving.
Toms River police officer John Carolan is investigating.