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Pedestrian Struck, Killed in Barnegat

No charges filed, but investigation ongoing, police said.

A 45-year-old Staten Island man was struck by a car and killed last night, according to Barnegat police.

At 7:28pm, officers responded to Barnegat Blvd North near Bengal Boulevard for a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.

Officers arrived and discovered that Michael Lubrano, was struck by a vehicle while he was on foot in the center southbound lane of Barnegat Blvd North. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


The vehicle that struck Lubrano was a 2001 Ford Taurus operated by Frank Fucci, 19, of Barnegat.

Initial information indicates that Fucci was approaching the Bengal Blvd intersection with a green light.

There are no indications that alcohol was involved.

Southbound lanes of Barnegat Blvd North in the area of the accident as well as Bengal Boulevard were closed to traffic for approximately two hours while the initial on-scene investigation was conducted, police said. All residences in the Bengal Blvd area were fully accessible to emergency vehicles during the closure.

The accident is being investigated by members of the Barnegat Police Traffic Safety Unit and Barnegat Police Investigative Division as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Response Team.

No charges have been filed nor any tickets issued at this time, however, the accident remains under investigation, according to Lt. Keith Germain.

Cecelia luthdt December 9, 2012 at 02:22 pm
Oh my maybe now the town will put lights on that road
Bud Ryan December 9, 2012 at 03:01 pm
He must have just been hit right before I drove by. 2 cops were on the scene directing traffic around the body. I figured he was dead cause no one was working on him and there was a pretty significant amount of blood. Agreed Cecelia they definitely need street lights!
Kathy Ciacciarelli December 9, 2012 at 03:12 pm
Lights are really needed on Barnegat Blvd!
Jeannie P December 9, 2012 at 03:58 pm
Unfortunately, it would take something like this to get more street lights around town. You would also think that with the high property taxes we pay we would not only have more street lights but a few extra traffic lights. The corner of Rosehill Rd. and Route 9 is also a very dangerous corner….you have a gas station on the left so when cars are in there you can’t see around them and then you have a house on the right with a huge tree you can hardly see around…and this is the corner where most school buses have to turn. I just hope nothing serious happens on that corner. Oh but wait…then maybe the town will do something?????????
Dan Yurowski December 9, 2012 at 05:34 pm
Woah this is going to be an intresting story with my friends tomorrow in school
Leanne Ricigliano Laboy December 9, 2012 at 05:54 pm
I agree, it's much too dark over there as it is for several other streets in the area,
Jim B December 9, 2012 at 05:58 pm
Yes lights would be a big help..so would NOT WALKING IN THE STREET....believe me i feel sorry for this poor victim as well as his family and the person who struck him, but people just dont know what a sidewalk is anymore..and the kids are the worst... Rest in Peace..
BeyondReality December 9, 2012 at 09:18 pm
I passed by this accident last night. Guess what is right at the intersection where the accident took place? A big yellow glowing TRAFFIC LIGHT.
Rick December 10, 2012 at 02:40 pm
Town town doesn't. It's a county road.
Rick December 10, 2012 at 02:43 pm
What's all this about street lights? I have noticed that some newer cars come equiped with something called headlights.
Holly O'Grady December 10, 2012 at 03:08 pm
Barnegat Blvd definately needs lights the street is so dark you can't see anything until you're right up ontop of it. The same with the northbound side of route 9 at Georgetown Blvd that needs a left turn signal even with all the accidents that happen at that traffic light the town still did not add a left turn signal.
Barnegat Resident December 10, 2012 at 03:17 pm
Barnegat Blvd. is extremely dark and it is very difficult to see anything. Yes there is a traffic light there but that does not make a difference, it is still impossible to see. My heart goes out to the man who lost his life, if he wasn't walking in the middle of the street maybe he would still be here, but for the young man who has to live with this I feel very bad for. My children attend the schools in town and know of the family of the young man. They are a very nice and respectful family, and I am sure they are greiving for the loss of the mans life. Unfortunate and tragic things happen in life that we can not explain. Maybe now the township will put lights on that road, there are many times that children are walking home from games or practices and it is just as dark out. My prayers go out to both families.....
Frank Karol December 10, 2012 at 05:00 pm
We need to take a good look at the: Pedestrians have right of way in crosswalks.. Some pedestrians think they can just walk across without first checking for oncoming vehicles.
Barnegat resident December 10, 2012 at 06:57 pm
My prayers go out to both families impacted by this tragedyI I
I have seen too many pedestrians and cyclists seemingly unaware of the most basic rules for walking or riding especially at night. We need an intense local educational campaign to review these rules: which side of the road to walk on or ride on, the use of reflectors and reflective clothing and the use of lights on bikes. We help our neighbors with food and clothing at our food banks; I for one would be glad to contribute to a fund which would provide bike lights or reflectors to those who could not afford them. Saving even one life would be more than worth it!!! Barnegat resident.
James White December 10, 2012 at 08:17 pm
Your sentence construction is as muddled as your thinking. You didn't see the accident, yet, for some reason, feel compelled to blame the victim, who isn't here to defend himself.
Next time, just realize you have nothing to add and try to exhibit some self-control. You've only made a fool of yourself....Well done.
Rick December 10, 2012 at 08:20 pm
Route 9 is a state highway. It took quite a while to get the left turn light at Rt 9 & Barnegat Blvd.
Talk to the state highway department.
Rick December 10, 2012 at 08:25 pm
Anyone who can afford a $200 bike can probably afford $3 for some reflectors.
Rick December 10, 2012 at 08:31 pm
The important part there is "pedestrians have the right of way IN CROSSWALKS".
That does not mean anywhere on a road. Of course it does not mean they are fair game anywhere outside a crosswalk. Drivers AND pedestrians both have to watch out for each other.
Kate Solari December 11, 2012 at 01:47 am
Im sorry but Barnegat Township has alot of issues they must resolve in the new year comming up one of them is how fast our Police Department response to accidents like this I had pasted by the accident that night and to my suprise there was cars parked along the road that where there who had seen the accident happend and at that point there was NO POLICE ACTIVITY WHEN I PASED BY !!! THE ONLY EMERGANCY Veichal that was there was an ambulance that had pasted me going north bound to the scene!n That was the only Emeragncy Veichal that was there first ! Where was the Police when they first got the call ..? The township needs lights on all county roads and township roads ! As well as Emergancy vechials meaning police and first repsonders meaning you get the call and you are there in seconds not when your ready to get there!
Rick December 11, 2012 at 03:24 pm
Well then should the township also put street lights on the section of the Parkway that runs through town.
Or how about Route 72?
Rick December 11, 2012 at 03:28 pm
Perhaps the police had already responded and left after the albulance arrived.
Kate Solari December 11, 2012 at 04:28 pm
Rick no there was no police there at all the guy was laying in the middle of the rode the people who where there where trying to stop traffic and get people's help ! The cops where the last thing that got there ! And they should have been first ! Not the ambiance ! And they need to put lights everywhere that is dark! Main question is how long have you even lived down here because they you are talking seems like you haven't lived here long !!! Maybe if you read what I said right you would Clealry understand that I saw it and the ambulance was the only Emerancgy vechial there !
Rick December 11, 2012 at 07:27 pm
Gee, I don't know. Does 28 years still qualify me as a newbee?
Have you ever noticed that Barnegat has several unmarked police cars with their emergency lights in the grill and on the dashboard? Just because it wasn't a big 'black and white' with lights all over the place doesn't mean they weren't there. And who do you think should pay for all these street lights?
Rick December 11, 2012 at 07:30 pm
So Kate, do you think the township should put street lights on the Parkway, Route 72, Bay Ave west of the last senior community and other areas that you think are too dark?
Rick December 11, 2012 at 07:37 pm
I am familiar with the intersection of Barnegat Blvd and Bengal Blvd. Even with street lights it would be difficult to see past the bright green traffic light.
Think about turning into the new WAWA at the light on Lighthouse. The green lights have the same effect even with all the other lights in the area.
Danielle McSweeney December 11, 2012 at 10:59 pm
@Rick Rt 72 all the way to Barnegat has street lights and you can clearly see the road all the way. Also Rick it cleatly states in the article, "Officers arrived and discovered that Michael Lubrano, was struck by a vehicle while he was on foot in the center southbound lane of Barnegat Blvd North" He was not even in the crosswalk and clearly Did NOT have the right of way AT ALL! Ambulance would have been on scene to determine the death and STAYED ON SCENE. Parkway has STREETLIGHTS too and I can see that you are someone who is not sure of their surroundings or you would see that. Parkway has streetlights especially near the Waretown, Barnegat and all the way up to Toms River. And you think he was on a BIKE?!?!?! It states he was WALKING!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE DID IT STATE A BIKE?!?!?! Get your eyes checked
Rick December 12, 2012 at 01:31 am
Danielle, Please try to read all of someone's post. I was replying to 'Barnegat resident' who wanted to set up and contribute to a fund to buy lights for needy bicycle riders.
And by the way, I wasn't the one who said there were no police present. That was Kate who sais she drove by and didn't see any police on the scene.
Rick December 12, 2012 at 06:30 pm
Gee Danielle, Have you ever driven all the way out on West Bay Ave (AKA Rt 554) to where it connects with Rt 72? From the last senior community to that intersection there might be one street light. Then if you go west on Rt 72 there are no lights until you get to Rt 539. West of that point there might be one every mile or so.
I commuted that route for about 15 years, trust me it is dark out there.
BeyondReality December 13, 2012 at 09:29 pm
Kate, I have a friend on the First Aid Squad who said that the ambulance was the one who called the accident in. They just happened to pull up on the accident right after it happened and no one had even called 911 yet. Police responded right after and were on scene quickly. The ambulance just happened to be returning from another call and saw it. Which would explain why police werent on scene yet and the ambulance was.
I think you should check your facts before you go on a forum ranting and raving. It is obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about and are just complaining to hear yourself. I hope you feel foolish because after the great job the police have done during and after Sandy the last thing they need is fact less criticism.

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