Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
Toms River police said two people – the driver of the vehicle and one of her passengers – that were involved in a crash on Route 37 outside Community Medical Center on Monday died as a result of their injuries.
Doris Turlish, 85, of New Gretna, the driver of the vehicle that police say caused the accident, was pronounced dead at the scene along with Marjorie Santamaria, 86, of Toms River, a passenger.
The accident occurred when Turlish was attempting to exit the Community Medical Center complex in her 2010 Mercury Milan utilizing the easternmost exit, police spokesman Ralph Stocco said. While exiting, Turlish accelerated to a high rate of speed, struck the curb divider between the entrance and exit lane, and entered Route 37 without yielding at a 90-degree angle heading straight for the center Jersey barrier.
Once in the right travel lane on Route 37 east, she was struck on the driver’s side of the vehicle by the Ford F-250 pickup operated by William Minter, 42, of Lanoka Harbor, Stocco said.
Turlish was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred just after 12 noon. Santamaria died at Community Medical Center at 1:16 p.m. Two other passengers – Maryann Turlish, 87, of New Gretna and Maria Santamaria, 52, of Toms River were both transported to the hospital and are listed in critical condition.
