Point Borough Man Injured in Two-Car Accident in Brick Near Borough Border

A Point Borough man was injured when his car driving south on River Road into the Route 70 intersection was struck by a car running a red light, driving east on Route 70 in Brick, police said on Tuesday afternoon.

Michael Knapp, 37, of Point Borough, suffered hip and upper leg injuries and a possible fracture and was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center shortly after Officer Austin Kenny was called to the scene at 11:22 p.m. Monday, said Brick Police Captain John Rein.

Knapp had no passengers in his 2008 Kia Sportage, Rein said.

Knapp's car had been struck by Cristian Valencia, 18, of Long Branch, who admitted to police that he had driven through a red light, not realizing it had changed to red because he had been using his GPS system, Rein said.

Valencia was charged with disregard of a red light, Rein said. He had abdominal pain, but refused medical treatment, Rein added.

The passenger in his black 2008 Nissan Maxima was Lucy Cruz, 16, also of Long Branch, who had neck pain and was also transported to Jersey Shore.

The accident also led to gasoline and anti-freeze leaks, but did not create an environmental hazard, said a state official on Tuesday.

A small amount of gasoline spilled on the road and about three gallons of anti-freeze leaked into a storm drain as the result of the accident, said Larry Hajna, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Anti-freeze contains "small amount of pollutants that would probably be diluted quickly by the river," said Hajna, referring to the nearby Manasquan River.

The DEP said they were notified of the spill at about 11:43 p.m. Monday night.

"Most of a tank of gas was on the ground, but police were able to stop the leak and secure the gas tank of the car and cleared the road at about 1 a.m.," Rein said.

Tow truck crews assisted in the clean-up, Rein said.

Reid said there was no indication that Valencia was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.