No Charges Filed After Barnegat Man Dies In Collision With Ocean County Freeholder
Family says victim in Eagleswood crash, a 2006 Southern Regional graduate, was looking to start his own business.
Police say they found no reason to file charges after a 24-year-old Barnegat man died Friday when his motorcycle collided with a sports utility vehicle driven by Freeholder John P. Kelly.
"There was nothing criminal that we see at all," said State Police Trooper Joseph Mezzo. "The accident is under investigation."
Kolb was driving southbound on his black 2011 Harley Davidson at approximately 6:35 p.m., near mile marker 65.5, in Eagleswood Township.
He attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him, then collided with the right fender of Kelly's 2005 sports utility vehicle when he tried to return to the lane of traffic, said Mezzo.
Kelly, 61, of Eagleswood, was traveling northbound on Route 9 and was attempting to make a left turn into the West Creek Deli when the collision occurred, Mezzo said.
Kolb was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered severe injuries. He died at the scene. Kelly was uninjured, said Mezzo, who is the investigating officer.
Kelly was first elected as a freeholder in 1992 and has served ever since. He also has served as mayor of Eagleswood Township.
No funeral arrangements were available at press time.
Miriam
9:53 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
There is so much corruption in this county most things are hard to believe!I'm not gonna color coat devil's advocate! A life was lost point and case.Especially,if you're local government what steps are you gonna take to bring blessing to this family?I know the freeholders show no compassion on the homeless,otherwise there wouldn't be a lawsuit against ocean county for failing the poor, so was there fear of another lawsuit? We know the freeholder eats,so he was on his way to a deli and we certainly know who he is,so no need for the bio toward the end of the story.I feel the story should be giving more glory to a young man who lost his life,and comments from the freeholder showing compassion,and steps he will take to help heal this family! I'm sorry local government,or not, his fault,or not,if I had an accident where the other driver lost his life.I would be going out of my way to personally console the family, and to find ways to help bring healing!The family hopes to put together a business that would employ family members the article states,then since the freeholders aren't addressing social service issues,or erecting a homeless shelter! Help get this family what they are asking for!!!!A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in on the experience. ....
Dawn
11:39 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
How do you know Freeholder Kelly has not consoled the family? Not a very nice comment at all!
WhyOhWhy
11:45 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Ya know what Dawn, between people like Mariam and Sal Sorce its really not worth the typing to comment against them...hey have a one track mind and assume
everything !
Gotta love their lack of common sense and empathy.
want2say
1:45 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Miriam, i agree with you!!! there seems to be nothing mentioned in the article about what is being done for the young man who lost his LIFE or for his family. i think that if the freeloader, uh, freeholder were offering any sort of condolences it would be made public as politicians love the publicity. you would think he would go out of his way, far far out of his way, to do good for this family. ALSO, you are right about the governement's lack of consideration for the homeless, the tent city people had to remove any wooden structures they managed to build to make their "homes" a little more secure and just use the tarps and what, string? not good servers of the people.
Smot Revir
8:57 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wow.....I only wish Dr.Kervorkian were still around to put you out of your misery !~
So Much to Say
4:31 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Blah blah blah....Miriam your a long winded scary person who nobody really care how much whinning you do. You threatened to leave months ago, why haven't you left yet?
WhyOhWhy
10:31 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Why not just leave POLITICS out of it Miriam?
This young man did not loose his life because Kelly was a Freeholder driving the car.
This young man lost his life I'm guessing beacuse he was going at a fast speed that caused him to be ejected off his bike at the time of impact.
I'm thinking had he been going a bit slower he would not have had to try and pass then realize he couldn't and try to get back in the lane causing him to hit the cars bumper.I dont think if he was going slower he might not have been ejected so severely to cause him to loose his life.
POLITICS did NOT kills this young man !
Dawn
11:40 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Very well said, RedonRed. I wish people would just think before they post nonsense.
Jersey Girl
2:18 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Unfortunatly we will never know the truth. Right now it is from what Kelly is saying, how do we know that Kelly did not hit him causing him to be ejected from the bike, how do we know Kelly was not trying to beat the oncoming traffic and rusing accross the road (OVER A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE) Will is not here to tell his side of what happened, we are only hearing one side and that is a shame. There are always 2 sides to a story and right now there is only one....so again we will never know the truth.
Mare
7:24 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
I've asked previously, why wasn't a breathalizer perfomed on the politician? That's my question. It's seems the politicians are treated quite differently than just everyday citizens in these types of situations.
Sal Sorce
8:18 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
POLITICS IS THE MAINSTAY OF MOST OF EVERYTHING
GOING ON IN ALL COUNTIES ... IT'S AS THOUGH THE STATE
WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO MOB SECTIONS ... DEM'S NORTH
AND GOP SOUTH ... $$$$$ MILLIONS TO BE HAD BY BOTH
GROUPS ... KEEP THE POLITICS OUT OF IT??? YEAH DREAM ON???
IT DOES NOT BEGIN WITH US ... BUT SURELY THERE IS A POWER
ABOVE US ... WHEN THE PEOPLE FEAR THEIR GOVERNMENT,
THERE IS TYRANNY; WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FEAR THE PEOPLE.
THERE IS LIBERTY ...
AUTHOR THOMAS JEFFERSON
So Much to Say
4:39 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
RedonRed....Right on!! It was an accident. I was involved in an accident not long ago. Should I have built the person a house? Put in a swimming pool for them? Let the insurance companies handle it, that's what you pay premiums for. But of course Miriam has to make this a political issue and of course make this a homeless issue when there was NO homeless involved. When will this nutjob go away????????
Sal Sorce
10:32 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
If the 24-year old was driving the van, and the Freeloader was on HIS motorcycle,
guarantee that blood and alcohol tests would have been taken.
To rely on an officer to make such a statement so soon at such a short time,
leaves me cold with the thoughts of who got a waiver?
Kelly and his son run the Deli, and many wonder who patronizes that Deli
and have their barracks so close by???
Family should lawyer up and with one who is outside Ocean County control?
SoylentGreen
11:15 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Blood test are done on all fatal accidents in Ocean County. I'm sure the Freeholder had one done as well. Unless you know something we don't.
Dawn
1:11 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Hey Sal,
This could very easily happen to you. And why make a statement about who owns the deli and how close to barracks it is? That has nothing to do with someone losing their life and the other having to live with that the rest of their life. Your very mean and rude!
Sal Sorce
10:40 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Some time back an officer from LBI township was in an incident
and from what many know, the case disappeared ... that driver was
a police officer ... ??? Are their special rules for county and township folks??
I was a victim of favors given someone who had over 40-moving violations,
had lost his license 4-times, upon his slamming his tow truck into my new
Olds wagon, no one was willing to measure the skid distance of over 100 feet.
Turns out he had huge towing contracts with the township (former north jersey),
he paid fees to officers who called in HIS towing business ... exposed by
someone who had knowledge and came forward ... a duty sgt. also refused to
measure the distance, no pictures were taken, no license was in possession of
the tow truck owner/driver ...
Family had best be alert for who investigates this incident ...
county officials including prosecutors are all connected at the wallet.
Freeloaders vote for raises and increases overtime etc,
it never ends ...
want2say
1:51 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Yup, a member of my family is also a victim of probably protection to the perp. My daughter was on her bicycle when a suv mirror slammed her hand, breaking it severely. She was thrown off the bike and cut up. A part of the mirror from that suv was found at the scene and there was the 7-11 camera footage. The local police said nothing could be done to find the hit and run driver. Do I believe them? no.
John Q Taxpayer
11:21 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
You people are discusting! I absolutely agree that local government is a system of favors and payoffs.but a young man lost his life and you use this as a tine to voice your opinions and sob stories about how you got screwed by someone somewhere along the line?thats life.suck it up.it clearly said that he was trying to pass freeholder kelly and was unable to do so.the accident was kolb's fault.as terrible as it is that it happened what is the point of scrutinizing kelly?and how do you know what kelly is or isnt doing for the family? You have no idea how he feels! Maybe you should all look into it a little further before you cone out with these ignorant comments! Someone died from his own mistake and just like the rest of this god aweful state you all want to point fingers and sue.if kelly wasnt a freeholder and just a regular citizen nobody woukd have thought of suing.so why now?because you can make a quick buck?people like you are what is wrong with this state and country for that matter.get iff your ass get aome ambition and better yourselves through hard work and dedication instead bieng content with your miserable existence and looking for the quickest easy way out to get the lifestyle you are too lazy to earn the right way!!
want2say
2:00 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Wow, how do you know whether the commenters have ambition in their lives or not? You started with making a good point that the accident was not the politician's fault and then you ended way off base, showing your hate.
justme
6:55 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
It does not "Clearly State" that he was trying to pass Kelly. What it does "Clearly State" is that they were heading in opposite dirrections. So I suggest you check your reading comprehension skills before calling anyone else ignorant!
want2say
1:58 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Wow, just finished reading all the comments. too much hate!!! Anyone voicing an opinion in the opinion section is being taken down by those who not only disagree, but are being nasty about it. Some see this an opportunity to voice out somewhat what has been held in for too long, i did.
All of us should rather try to be consoling and compassionate to the families involved.
To those who lost a family member, my sincere condolences.
A Human Being
7:08 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Rest in peace William, though i didnt know you, nor personally know freeholder Kelly, an regardless of how he votes on issues, i'd like to think he has a conscience. So tonight both William & mr. Kelly will b in my prayers, as will Williams family.
bill
11:39 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
the problem with the whole thing is that not everyone is honoring the memory of the man that was killed...but the papers are quick to praise the freeholders long history as a politician..the only way for a fair investigation is to not allow ocean county goverment to be involved in it...i know from own issues with them, they like to cover things up for their own...its all about an image they want to protect...his carreer should not excuse him from this..we need to stop voting these people in that think they can just throw their weight around because of the job they have or the title in goverment...people need to focus on the man that died and stop giving this politician anymore attention regarding who he is or works..he a average person after goverment closes at 4:30pm monday threw friday....the title of freeholder is a job title in goverment...so people need to just refer to him as john kelly of west creek nj.....now saying this i FEEL VERY SORRY FOR THE KOLBS FAMILY and may you have the justice and closer that you deserve....
WhyOhWhy
8:25 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I don't know why this isn't showing up here BUTI got this in my Inbox:
ARTY also commented on No Charges Filed After Barnegat Man Dies In Collision With Ocean County Freeholder.
"Redonred.........watch the mouth you didn't know will! Bottom line was he was killed, and you are judging a bright young man, family man, brother. And sticking up for kelly? Did you know kelly? Or are you another one that don't like riders. if you have ever shared a laugh or shook this mans hand you'd understand why people are upset..... thank you"
First off "ARTY" I did not defend Kelly, second I feel (and said I did) for the Young man and his family, and third I am not a Bike hater !!!
And how do you know I didnt know Will? I don't know Kelly !
I was just starting a fact and voicing MY opinion, which the last time I looked was allowed and done by many others! Why you felt the need to single me out I have NO idea.
All I'm saying is this young man did NOT die because Kelly was a Freeholder and to leave politics OUT of this and it was not directed at you, anyway. I understand that you are upset, but I'd appreciate you getting OFF my case ! Thank you.
Just Saying
9:08 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
didnt senator Singer kill someone with his car in Lakewood a few years back? He got off easy also.
Cody
5:31 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Actually it is Singer one death and Kelly one. There are probably more but the only other politicians I can remember gaining headlines by killing someone are Robert Miller and Joe Portash who caused their own deaths and Tom Mathis who committed suicide. (Portash was officially a heart attack). I could have said Republican politicians but in Ocean County that would be redundant. I think the state or Lakewood would be well off to get Singer a driver. He has been involved in three serious accidents, caused one death & the most recent ended in a $1.175 Million dollar settlement.
From: http://www.totalinjury.com/news/verdicts/car-accident.aspx
"Pedestrian Barbara Sara suffered fractures in her arm, leg, ankles and a concussion after New Jersey Senator Robert Singer struck her with his vehicle on June 15, 2005. The parties reached a $1.175 million settlement on the day of the scheduled trial for the case. Singer has two other serious accidents he was involved in, including one that resulted in the death of one man. However, investigators found Singer was not at fault for those two accidents because they were unavoidable situations."
I've heard from many sources that Singer has a drinking problem but I've no first hand knowledge. I've also had people tell me that Kelly looks & acts like a drunk but again that would be hearsay. Just too bad we did not have Patch back in 2005! As has been said above, there often is fault or lack of attention by both parties not just the victims.
Sal Sorce
1:37 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Freeholder's New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "Freeholder"
is unique in the United States. Origin of the term was in the provisions of the
NJ State Constitution of 1776.
"That all inhabitants of this Colony, of full age, who are worth fifty pounds proclamation money, clear estate in the same, and have resided within the county
in which they claim a vote for 12-months immediately preceding the election, shall
be entitled to vote for Representatives in Council and Assembly; and also for all other public officers, that shall be elected by the people of the county at large.
Emphasis added, the name "freeholders" in the Board of Chosen Freeholders is
because "clear estate" is known as Freeholder. Chosen simply means elected.
Remember this come the upcoming election? As I prefer the title " Freeloader"
based upon the Ocean County GOP connection ... that has cronyism as a built-in
trait ... Note: They are the gang that APPOINTS our OCEAN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ... Fact: 2000 Census shows Ocean Cty. population was
510,916 making it the fastest growing in New Jersey ...
So how and why do we allow such a party to control this County and townships
and appoint THEIR candidates what appears to be in perpetuity???