One Dead In 12-Car Accident On Beaver Dam Bridge

An accident on the Beaver Dam Bridge that involved 12 cars claimed one life Friday morning, authorities confirmed.

The accident, which occurred just after 8:30 a.m. on the Brick side of the bridge, has forced the shutdown of both sides of the span as police continue to investigate. Police have not yet released the name of the person who died.

The bridge is expected to be closed at least another two hours, police said at about 12:30 p.m. Friday. Police have reopened the intersection of Princeton Avenue and Jordan Road, however.

Police told Patch 12 cars were involved in the accident, and some of the cars remain on the bridge waiting to be towed from the scene. In addition to the fatality, four other injuries were reported, none of which appeared life-threatening, said Brick Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist.

Bergquist said icy conditions on the bridge may have contributed to the cause of the accident, but that the cause is still being investigated.

The accident occurred as emergency crews throughout Ocean County were scrambling to respond to a plethora of accidents, most of which were attributable to extremely icy conditions brought on by freezing rain.

A woman at the scene was watching crews work to tow cars away and clear debris. She told Patch she had been driving a black Jeep, and was alone in her car, which was still on the bridge waiting to be cleared.

She said she had not been injured, but did not want to give her name. The woman, who said she was a local resident, was waiting on the bridge with her father and boyfriend.

Brick police, the Brick fire department, including a rig from the Laurelton fire company, and Lakewood police were all assisting at the scene.