2 Hurt As Car Runs Red Light In Berkeley: Police

BERKELEY, NJ — Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash Friday night after a man ran a red light on Pelican Island near the east base of the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge, Berkeley police said.

David Johnson, of Woodbridge, was driving a white Nissan Sentra going eastbound on Route 37 around 6:30 p.m. when he ran a red traffic signal at Catalina Avenue, police said.

Johnson struck a Mercedes driven by a 54-year-old woman from Staten Island, New York, as she traveled through the intersection with a green traffic signal. The Mercedes spun into the traffic signal causing it to fall on her vehicle, according to police.

Johnson’s Nissan veered into an Acura driven by a 24-year-old man from Baltimore, Maryland, before coming to rest at the curb, police said.

Johnson and the woman in the Mercedes were taken to an area hospital for moderate injuries, police said.

The downed signal detoured Route 37 westbound traffic on Pelican Island and reduced eastbound traffic to one lane across the Thomas Mathis Bridge while repairs were made.

Charges are pending, according to police.

Traffic Safety Officer Brian Flanegan is overseeing the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information can call the Traffic Safety Bureau at 732-341-1132 x2125 .

Assisting in traffic control and emergency response were the Seaside Park police, Seaside Heights police, New Jersey State police, Toms River police, Tri-Boro First Aid, Silverton EMS, New Jersey Department of Transportation, RWJ paramedics and the Seaside Park Fire Department.

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