Wrong-Way Head-On Crash On Route 70 In Brick Injures 3 Men

BRICK, NJ — Three people were injured Monday morning in a three-vehicle when a driver headed the wrong way on Route 70 hit another car head-on, Brick police said.

Mark Ferrell, 35, of Toms River; Mark Valle, 28, of Brick, and Patrick McElroy, 56, of Toms River, all were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

The crash happened about 5:30 a.m. on Route 70, Kelly said; photos published on social media showed it happened near the Beacon 70 restaurant.

Ferrell was driving a 2018 black Audi A6 west in the eastbound lanes of Route 70 when he hit a blue 2020 Volvo XC4 that Valle was driving east. The impact caused Valle’s car to spin and crash into McElroy's black 2004 GMC Sierra.

Ferrell had to be extricated from his car and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Kelly said. Valle and McElroy were taken to Ocean Medical Center.

Investigators are trying to determine how Ferrell wound up in the eastbound lanes, as Route 70 is divided by a concrete barrier in that stretch of the road.

Kelly said investigators are looking into whether there is a connection to a hit-and-run crash that happened on Route 70 west near the Home Depot that happened before the 5:30 a.m. crash. There were minor injuries in that crash, he said.

Both crashes are being investigated by Sgt. Keith Donnelly and Patrolman Jay Lampiasi of the Traffic Safety Unit. Anyone who may have witnessed either crash is asked to contact Donnelly or Lampiasi at 732-262-1140.

Members of the Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose and Laurelton fire companies responded and performed the extrication, Kelly said. The three men were transported by Brick Police EMS.

Route 70 was closed from Brick Boulevard to the Laurelton interchange for more than three hours.

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