Auto Accidents Pile Up

Several car accidents throughout town recently

Several separate car accidents led to injuries and arrests in recent weeks, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said. (Courtesy Photo)

HAMMONTON—Several separate car accidents led to injuries and arrests in recent weeks, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said. Among them were the following:

• June 15 at 2:02 p.m., there was an accident at the intersection of White Horse Pike (Route 30) and Bellevue Avenue, Friel said.

Vehicle number one, a 2008 white GMC driven by Kevin Pryor, 38, of Heislerville, was traveling westbound on the White Horse Pike (Route 30) on the outside lane of travel when vehicle number two, a 2020 gray Suzuki motorcycle, operated by Terry Oakley, 65, of Berlin, was traveling westbound on the pike on the inside lane of travel, Friel said.

“Vehicle number one made a left turn from the outside lane of travel onto Bellevue Avenue. The motorcycle was traveling westbound on the inside lane of travel. While vehicle one was making the turn, the motorcycle hit the rear driver’s side of the vehicle,” Friel said.

Oakley was ejected from the motorcycle and impacted with the pavement, Friel said. He was transported via air ambulance for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident, Friel said.

Pryor was charged with improper turn at traffic control, unsafe lane change, improper left turn and careless driving, Friel said.

Officer Renzo Mendoza was the investigating officer, Friel said.

• On June 17 at 11:02 a.m. at the intersection of Third and Grape Streets, a two-car accident occurred, Friel said.

Vehicle number two, a 2007 silver Toyota, was traveling westbound on south Third Street, approaching the intersection of Grape Street when vehicle number one, a 2018 white Ford was traveling southbound on Grape Street and impacted with vehicle number two, causing vehicle number two to impact the curb, run off the roadway to the left and impact a flower bed, Friel said.

A police investigation revealed that driver number one failed to yield the right-of-way to vehicle number two, causing the collision, Friel said.

The driver of vehicle number one is Gloria Myers, 86, of Waterford Twp. and the driver of vehicle number two is Shawn Stinger, 18, of Atco, Friel said. Myers was charged with failure to yield right-of-way, Friel said.

Officer Christopher Henshaw was the investigating officer, Friel said.

• On June 17 at 11:41 p.m., on the prime block of the White Horse Pike, a motor vehicle crash became a driving while under the influence arrest, Friel said.

“There was a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident with one of them overturned,” Friel said.

The driver of vehicle one, a 2008 white Chevy, was Mauricio Gabriel-Hernandez, 18, of Hammonton, Friel said.

Friel said the second vehicle, a 2005 gray Toyota, was traveling eastbound on the White Horse Pike, when vehicle number one failed to stop at the stop sign exiting the convenience store parking lot, causing vehicle number two to impact the driver’s side of vehicle number one, Friel said.

Gabriel-Hernandez fled the scene on foot, and further investigation led to the location of Gabriel-Hernandez, who was observed to be intoxicated, Friel said.

Passengers in vehicle number two were injured and were transported to Virtua Voorhees for treatment, Friel said.

Gabriel-Hernandez was charged with assault by auto, driving while under the influence, open container in a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, uninsured vehicle, failure to possess a driver’s license, failure to possess the insurance card, reckless driving, careless driving and unlicensed driver, Friel said.

Officer Dalton Scola is the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.

• On June 20 at 12:42 a.m., on the 800 block of Central Avenue, a motor vehicle crash led to a driving while under the influence charge, Friel said.

“A motor vehicle struck a tree,” Friel said.

Officer Travis Hoffman was dispatched in regards to an accident, Friel said.

Upon arrival, Hoffman witnessed the vehicle had impacted the tree and the driver was lying on the side of the road holding his arm, Friel said.

The driver was identified as Matthew Ercolano, 29, of Freehold, Friel said. Ercolano stated that he had been drinking and his tire caused him to crash his vehicle, Friel said.

He was transported by AtlantiCare EMS for medical treatment, Friel said. He was charged with the following motor vehicle violations: driving while under the influence, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, failure to exhibit documents and consumption of an alcoholic beverage by the driver of the vehicle, Friel said.

Hoffman was the investigating officer, Friel said.