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Crime & Safety

Elderly Man Dies After Being Ejected From Pick-Up Truck On GSP In Barnegat

No vehicle lights on in early morning accident

An 87-year-old Cape May County man died in an early morning motor vehicle collision on the northbound Garden State Parkway in Barnegat on Sunday.

The accident occured at approximately 2:48 a.m. near milemarker 68.2.

As a result of the collision, Robert T. Pestridge Jr., Middle Township, was ejected out of his driver's side door and sustained massive head and neck trauma. He succumbed to the injuries on scene. MONOC pronounced the time of death at 3:26 a.m., according to NJ state police.

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During the course of the investigation, the southbound lanes were closed for approximately three hours due to a large debris field, State Trooper Adam Tighe said.

At approximately 2:48 a.m., a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck operated by Pestridge entered the parkway from the northbound exit 67 entrance when he traveled northwest, improperly changing lanes from the right lanes across heading to the left lanes, according to State Police Sergeant Ralph Kohlhepp.

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Pestridge was traveling without any lights on, police said.

"As it entered the center lane, it's driver's side front fender and tire was struck by a black BMW passenger's side front fender and bumper," said Trooper Adam Tighe in a prepared release.

"It was a right-angle or T-Bone accident," said Kohlhepp.

The BMW was operated by Stuart Markowitz, 49, of Morganville.

The collision caused the pickup to rotate in a clockwise rotation until the pickup righted itself upon its tires partially in the right and center lanes where it came to a final rest, according to Tighe.

"The BMW continued its northbound travel. While doing so it ran off the right side of the roadway where its passengr's side front bumper and fender impacted the face of a parkway metal guide rail and came to a final rest," Tighe said.

The occupants of the BMW were transported to Southern Ocean County Hospital for treatment with minor injuries.

In additiion to Markowitz, the occupants of the BMW included Eraz Adoni, 43; Tamara S. Markowitz, 44; and Lilach Adoni, 41. All are from Morganville.

Those with any information in regards to this motor vehicle accident should contact Trooper Tighe ext. 6655 of the Bass River Station 609-296-0503. State Trooper Hicks also investigated.

 

 

 

 

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