Toms River Police Car (File Photo)
An out-of-state motorist was issued a summons following a collision with a Toms River police car on Route 37 Sunday night.
The accident occurred just after 9 p.m., when the police vehicle was en route to the barrier island, responding to a boating accident in which seven people were ejected into Barnegat Bay. According to a statement from police, Brian Ayres, 55, of Pearl River, N.Y., was traveling in the left lane heading west on Route 37 when he struck the police vehicle.
Ayres, the statement said, told officers that he did not see the emergency lights of the Toms River Police patrol car before striking it on the driver’s side. According to witnesses at the scene, all other traffic had stopped and yielded to the emergency vehicle, said police spokeswoman Jillian Messina.
The officer had his emergency lights and siren activated at the time of the collision, according to the statement.
Ayres and the officer only suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash, and both declined medical treatment. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.
Ayres was issued a summons for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. The accident is under investigation by Toms River Police Sgt. Sean Smith. Also assisting on scene was the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.
