Two-Car Accident in Same Spot As June 29 Crash in Point Beach

Lightning may not strike the same spot twice, but cars surely can.

A car drove into the front of a second car on Wednesday evening in the same spot on Route 35 south as another two-car crash two weeks ago, police said.

There were no serious injuries in the Wednesday evening incident and no charges have been filed yet, pending an ongoing police investigation by Officer Frank Finn, said Sgt. Richard Otto.

In the recent accident, Donna Haas, 44, of Mercerville, drove the front of her car into the front of a car driven by Russell Deyo, 61, of Mountain Lakes, with Deyo's car grazing the same utility pole that had been knocked down in the incident two weeks ago.

Haas' car then smashed into a birch tree outside Burger King.

Both cars had significant front end and side damage and were towed from the scene.

Both crashes occurred just south of the exit for Route 88 west.

Dorothy Jones, a Burger King manager, came out of the fast-food establishment to survey the scene and said there have been a lot more than two accidents in front of Burger King.

"They need to move that tree," Jones said, pointing to a tree just north of the sign marking the entrance into the Burger King parking lot.

"People can't see past that tree to see my sign, then they drive past the tree, see the sign at the last minute and try to turn in," she said. "I have to talk to the town about it."

Haas was taken by the Point Pleasant First Aid and Emergency Squad to Ocean Care Center nearby on Route 88, said Squad Captain Jerry Meaney.

Otto said Haas appeared to not be suffering any serious injuries, Otto said.

"She appeared shaken up," he said.

Haas had tried to change from the right to the left lane or had tried to turn left into the Burger King driveway, but instead smashed into the Lexus, Otto said.

"By momentum, they were forced off the road" into the driveway entrance, with the Lexus grazing the utility pole that was replaced after the crash two weeks ago, Otto said.

In addition to police and the first aid squad, the Point Pleasant Beach fire department also responded to the scene.