Crime & Safety

Blood Alcohol Results Pending On Belmar Man In Crash That Injured Two Cops

Second officer released from Jersey Shore University Medical Center late Saturday


Two Pine Beach police officers had to be airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center early Saturday after an alleged drunk driver from Belmar plowed into their parked patrol cars, Mayor Lawrence Cuneo said.

The accident happened around midnight near Washington Avenue on Route 9. Officer Jesse Urban had stopped a driver for motor vehicle violations and Officer Robert King pulled up behind him to assist, the mayor said.

A fourth car traveling northbound on Route 9 slammed into one of the patrol cars, which was then pushed into the other patrol car, which spun around and struck Urban, Cuneo said.

King suffered a concussion and was released early this morning. Urban suffered broken ribs, a concussion and scrapes and bruise. He was released from Jersey Shore University Medical Center late today, said Al Della Fave, spokesperson for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The driver who struck the cars is Jeffrey Carstens, 44, 608 18th Avenue, Belmar, Della Fave said.

Carstens has not been charged yet. Authorities are waiting for blood test results of his blood alcohol content, he said..

One of the patrol cars was totaled in the accident and the other might be able to be repaired. The Pine Beach department only had four patrol cars, so half the fleet is out of commission, he said.

"It's not good," Cuneo said.

Pine Beach was assisted last night by officers from the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Beachwood and Ocean Gagte police departments. Pine Beach will need patrol help for the near future, the mayor said.

"We'll get assistance from other towns," Cuneo said. "You do what you've got to do. We all help each other out."



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.