Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
A 44-year-old woman was struck by two vehicles and killed Monday night on Route 9 in Toms River, authorities said.
The incident occurred at the intersection of the highway and Stevens Road, according to police spokesman Ralph Stocco, who said officers arrived at the scene to find Kimberly Vanpelt, of Neptune City, unresponsive in the middle of the roadway.
“Lifesaving attempts failed and she was pronounced dead a short time later,” Stocco said.
An initial investigation by police determined that Van Pelt was crossing Route 9 in an easterly direction when she was struck by a southbound 2000 Dodge pickup truck being operated by Jose Rios Simental, 55, of Lawrenceville, Ga. As a result of the impact, Vanpelt landed in the northbound lane where she was struck by a second vehicle – a 2011 Ford being driven by James Cohen, 31, of Waretown.
The deadly crash is still under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Robert Westfall, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.
