2 Hurt As Car Hits Street Sweeper On Mathis Bridge in Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Lavallette woman was seriously injured Monday in a crash after she sideswiped a street sweeper on Route 37 at the Mathis Bridge, Toms River police said.

Raffaela Crisp, 89, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for treatment following the crash, which happened about 11 a.m., said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Crisp was driving east on Route 37 in the left lane over the Mathis Bridge when she changed lanes into the center lane, she said.

In doing so, Crisp sideswiped an Ocean County Road Department street sweeper that was in the center lane and crashed, Messina said. Crisp was not wearing a seatbelt and was pinned between the dashboard and her seat; she was extricated by the Toms River Fire Department.

Crisp was treated by Toms River EMS and Robert Wood Johnson MICU and taken to the landing zone, where she was flown to Jersey Shore.

The street sweeper driver also was injured and was taken to Community Medical Center by Toms River EMS, Messina said.

The Mathis Bridge was closed for a short time to remove vehicles and clean up the scene. Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officer Ryan Fitzgerald is investigating the crash.

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