Toms River Man Charged With DWI After Crash Knocks Out Power: PD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man is facing multiple charges after a crash on Bay Avenue that damaged two utility poles and knocked out power to several neighborhoods on Sunday evening, Toms River police said Monday.

Wilfredo Flores, 47, has been charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, having an unregistered vehicle, and a cell phone violation after the crash that happened about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Bay Avenue and Tanglewood Road, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

The investigation showed Flores was driving east on Bay Avenue and lost control of his vehicle when he allegedly answered a call on his cell phone while negotiating a curve in the road, Messina said.

Flores swerved off the road, hitting a curb and a utility pole, which snapped in half, she said. The broken pole caused damage to a second pole due to excessive wire tension, she said.

After the crash, Flores drove off, continuing east on Bay Avenue until a concerned citizen stopped him, Messina said.

The downed wires ignited two brush fires that were quickly extinguished by Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, she said.

Several neighborhoods on the east side of town were without power throughout the night while Verizon and JCP&L worked to repair the damaged poles, and traffic lights were out between Vaughn Avenue and Indian Hill Road along Bay Avenue as a result of the crash.

Fl0res's vehicle was impounded. Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Robert Westfall is investigating.

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