Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
Toms River police say a township man was hit by a car and left in the road to succumb to his injuries on Christmas Day.
Police were called to the intersection of Highland Parkway and Herflicker Boulevard for a man lying in the roadway after a motorist called 911. Upon arrival, the officers located the victim, Keith Elliott, 45, of Messenger Street.
“Elliott was deceased and no lifesaving efforts were able to be performed,” said police spokesman Ralph Stocco.
Elliott had “numerous visible injuries consistent with a vehicle hit and run,” said Stocco. The roadway and surrounding area were canvassed in attempts to locate any physical or video evidence. Investigators are on the scene again Monday attempting to collect more evidence from surrounding businesses that were closed on Christmas Day.
The initial investigation appears to show that, prior to his death, Elliott left his residence on Messenger Street. It is believed he was walking to the bus terminal on Highland parkway, Stocco said. He was planning on taking a bus to Lacey Township where he was planning to spend Christmas Day with his family.
The Ocean County Prosecutors Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office were all called to the scene to assist in the investigation. Detective Proto, from the Prosecutors Office and Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Adam Koeppen are leading the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Adam Koeppen at 732-349-0150 extension 1350 or by email at akoeppen@trpolice.org. This information will be kept strictly confidential, Stocco said.
