One man is dead and another is seriously injured after 3 motorcycles and a SUV were involved in an accident on Sunday.
According to Mark LeMieux of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, “On Sunday, June 24 at 1:27 p.m. there was a multiple motorcycle and vehicle collision that occurred on Elton Adelphia Rd near the intersection Wellesley way in Freehold Township.”
The motorcyclists were participating in a March of Dimes “Bikers for Babies” charity ride that began at restaurant in Howell. The event raises money to support education about the seriousness of premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Between 80-1000 riders were participating in the event, said LeMieux.
According to the LeMieux, participants Jack Wood, Jr., 37, of Keansburg, and Jason Rivera, 32, of Middletown, were traveling east bound on Elton Adelphia Rd. and crossed over a double line entering the west bound lane. The motorcyclists were passing other riders in an effort to shut down the intersection ahead for the safe passing of the other motorcycle riders.
As Wood was passing, he came up a slight hill where encountered a 2006 Toyota Highlander operated by a 17-year-old girl from Freehold who was traveling west-bound at the time. Wood applied his brakes, but was then rear-ended by Rivera. After that occurred, both motorcycles became unstable, explained LeMieux.
Wood slid across the westbound lane striking the road’s northern curb. Rivera’s motorcycle went head-on into the Toyota. Then, a third collision occurred when Rivera’s motorcycle was thrown into the eastbound lane and hit motorcyclist Benjamin Martinez, 55, of Peth Amboy.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Rivera was transported to CentraState Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:10 p.m. Wood was medi-vaced to Jersey Shore with serious injuries. He is still being treated there. Martinez was transported to Jersey Shore where he was treated and released. The 17-year-old and her two passengers were transported to Jersey Shore for precautionary reasons and were released.
The Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating this accident.
And lets not forgt that poor 17 year old girl. what she will have to deal with as well. so sad.
Up until the accident we had very little police presence.. here and there in a few towns. Right before the accident NJ state trooper was passing the entire group of bikers going up hill... Thats the first thing that went wrong!! What kind of law enforcement officer would do such a stupid thing? That was the 2nd or 3rd time the trooper passed in a dangerous manner.. once almost running into us to avoid a car exiting a driveway..like he had some emergency to go to.. At the time of the accident, had it been 5 seconds later and the trooper would have had no place to go except head on with SUV or into the lane of bikers, but he managed to get back into our lane before the big crash!! Second thing going wrong, The riders (mainly Roughneck gang) that were doing traffic stops were passing on curves, inclines and every other chance to get ahead of bikers as if it they owned the road with not a care in the world in regards to our safety.. Every time they blew past me.. I thought someone is going to get killed!! About 10 miles before we finished.. when the trooper was going up hill passing in wrong lane, he came back into our lane avoiding collision.. 2 bikes following way to fast and way to close could not avoid collision with car..
i would not be surprised if this is going to cause some type of legislation out ot Trenton which will ban organized group rides of this type, and only allow Poker Runs where everyone rides at their own pace, not as a group.