Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
A homeless man who lived in the woods near the banks of the Toms River was seen falling into the waterway, prompting a 911 call and a search that eventually turned up his body.
The 2:48 p.m. 911 call came after a caller reported the man, Edward Kosar, 51, fell in the water. South Toms River police immediately responded to 100 Atlantic City Avenue, Mathis Park, in an effort to locate the man and attempt life saving measures. Their search, assisted by the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Toms River PD and several surrounding area fire departments, located Kosar floating in the water face down. The victim was transported to the shoreline by a state police marine unit and pronounced deceased at 4:08 pm.
It is suspected that the victim may have been intoxicated when he fell in the water. He was seen drinking earlier in the day, and surveillance cameras in the area showed he was stumbling and having trouble walking due to “apparent intoxication,” authorities said in a statement.
