Middletown, NJ
Traffic
Overturned Dump Truck Shuts Route 18 Overturned Dump Truck Shuts Route 18
Overturned Dump Truck Shuts Route 18 A dump truck overturned on Route 18 South in Monmouth County, shutting down the road during morning rush hour, authorities said. The NJDOT said it happened in Marlboro south of exit 30 and Route 9 at around 8:11 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 12. The dump truck spilled what appeared to be small rocks in a picture posted on Facebook by the Marlboro Township Police Department. All southbound lanes of Route 18 were closed for "an extended period of time" near Tennent Road, Marlboro police said. Officers were at the scene to put a detour in place and drivers were asked to avoid the area if possible…

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by Chris Spiker
Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Pedestrian Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries In Monmouth County Crash Pedestrian Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries In Monmouth County Crash
Pedestrian Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries In Monmouth County Crash A man was fighting for his life after he was hit by an SUV while walking across Route 9 in Monmouth County, authorities said. Howell Township police responded to the pedestrian crash near the intersection with Strickland Road at around 5:21 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 11, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. The 27-year-old man was crossing Route 9 when he was hit by a northbound 2020 GMC Terrain. The pedestrian was rushed to the hospital with several life-threatening injuries. The 41-year-old man driving the SUV stayed at the scene. The crash investigation is active an…

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by Chris Spiker
Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
Who Was Xavier Contreras? Homeless Laborer ID’d As Fatal Fire Victim At Former Ridgefield B&B Who Was Xavier Contreras? Homeless Laborer ID’d As Fatal Fire Victim At Former Ridgefield B&B
Who Was Xavier Contreras? Homeless Laborer ID’d As Fatal Fire Victim At Former Ridgefield B&B 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A former bed and breakfast in Ridgefield had been leveled by fire when responders found the remains of a man wrapped around a support beam. “He must’ve been alive and trying to hold on when the floor above him collapsed,” said a firefighter who was at the predawn blaze at the former Toddle Inn on Broad Avenue on Wednesday, March 6. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella identified the victim on Friday as 42-year-old Xavier Contreras. An Ecuadoran national, the homeless Contreras sometimes joined the groups of day laborers waiting for passing contractors in nearby Palisades Park, ju…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Cliffside Park-Edgewater, NJ
Police & Fire
ARSON? Body Found Following Fierce Fire In Ridgefield (UPDATE) ARSON? Body Found Following Fierce Fire In Ridgefield (UPDATE)
Arson? Body Found Following Fierce Fire In Ridgefield (Update) 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A former bed and breakfast in Ridgefield had been leveled by fire when responders found the remains of a man wrapped around a support beam. “He must’ve been alive and trying to hold on when the floor above him collapsed,” said a firefighter who was at the predawn blaze at the former Toddle Inn on Broad Avenue on Wednesday, March 6. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella identified the victim on Friday as 42-year-old Xavier Contreras. An Ecuadoran national, the homeless Contreras sometimes joined the groups of day laborers waiting for passing contractors in nearby Palisades Park, jus…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Cliffside Park-Edgewater, NJ
Police & Fire
Body Found, Another Possible Following Fierce Multi-Family Home Fire In Ridgefield Body Found, Another Possible Following Fierce Multi-Family Home Fire In Ridgefield
Body Found, Another Possible Following Fierce Multi-Family Home Fire In Ridgefield 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A former bed and breakfast in Ridgefield had been leveled by fire when responders found the remains of a man wrapped around a support beam. “He must’ve been alive and trying to hold on when the floor above him collapsed,” said a firefighter who was at the predawn blaze at the former Toddle Inn on Broad Avenue on Wednesday, March 6. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella identified the victim on Friday as 42-year-old Xavier Contreras. An Ecuadoran national, the homeless Contreras sometimes joined the groups of day laborers waiting for passing contractors in nearby Palisades Park, jus…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
7-11 Robbed By Armed Suspect On Route 9 In Central Jersey 7-11 Robbed By Armed Suspect On Route 9 In Central Jersey
7-11 Robbed By Armed Suspect On Route 9 In Central Jersey A man with a handgun robbed a 7-11 store along Route 9 in Old Bridge, authorities said. The robbery occurred at about 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, according to Old Bridge police spokesman Captain Michael J. Snee. Upon their arrival at the store located at 1189 Route 9, police found the robbery victim was an employee, Snee said. During the robbery, the suspect showed a handgun, Snee said. Snee did not say what or how much was stolen. This investigation is active and ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Phil Belgio of the Old Bridge Police Department at…

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by Jon Craig
Lakewood, NJ
Police & Fire
Toms River Crash Shuts Down Route 9 In Both Directions Toms River Crash Shuts Down Route 9 In Both Directions
Toms River Crash Shuts Down Route 9 In Both Directions A vehicle crash shut down both directions of Route 9 in Toms River for at least an hour, officials said. Route 9 closed at around 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, according to the state Department of Transportation (NJDOT). Traffic was blocked between Church and Cox Cro roads as first responders and investigators stayed at the crash scene. There was no word of how many vehicles were involved and if there were any injuries. The NJDOT said the crash caused about a 15-minute delay for drivers.

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by Chris Spiker
Edison, NJ
Business
ShopRite Store Coming To Central Jersey Hiring For Hundreds Of Positions ShopRite Store Coming To Central Jersey Hiring For Hundreds Of Positions
ShopRite Store Coming To Central Jersey Hiring For Hundreds Of Positions About 300 jobs are being created thanks to the arrival of a new ShopRite in Old Bridge. The new ShopRite is located in the Glenwood Green Shopping Center at Route 9 and Schulmeister Road. The store is set to open in March. Hiring is taking place for all positions including department managers, butchers, deli, bakery, dairy, produce and seafood associates, customer service associates, cashiers and baggers. Perry Blatt, director of E-Commerce and Business Development for Village Super Market, Inc., said,  “We look forward to continuing our commitment to the community with a brand new s…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
News
Nordstrom Rack To Replace Bed Bath & Beyond In Central Jersey Shopping Plaza Nordstrom Rack To Replace Bed Bath & Beyond In Central Jersey Shopping Plaza
Nordstrom Rack To Replace Bed Bath & Beyond In Central Jersey Shopping Plaza A less expensive store for a luxury fashion chain is coming to a shopping center in Monmouth County. Nordstrom Rack will open up a store in spring 2025 at the old Bed Bath & Beyond location in Manalapan Commons. The retail chain announced the plans in a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The store will join other chains in Manalapan Commons like Best Buy, Panera Bread, Five Below, PetSmart, and Raymour & Flanigan. "We look forward to being a part of the Manalapan Township community and serving our customers with an amazing offering of great brands at great prices," said Nordstr…

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by Chris Spiker
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Longtime Home Depot Employee Killed In Crash Behind Route 9 Store Longtime Home Depot Employee Killed In Crash Behind Route 9 Store
Longtime Home Depot Employee Killed In Crash Behind Route 9 Store A longtime Home Depot employee from South Brunswick was killed when his sedan crashed into a trailer behind the Route 9 store where he'd worked. Allen Szucs, 55, was pronounced dead in the superstore's parking lot after his 1999 Chevy Malibu slammed into the parked trailer shortly before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, police said. Authorities haven't yet characterized the cause of the crash. Szucs, who lived in the Kendall Park section of the township, had been with Home Depot on southbound Route 9 in Monmouth Junction since April 2015, according to his LinkedIn bio. He most recently had be…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lakewood, NJ
Business
Revamped Jersey Shore Restaurant Will Open Just In Time For Summer Revamped Jersey Shore Restaurant Will Open Just In Time For Summer
Revamped Jersey Shore Restaurant Will Open Just In Time For Summer A restaurant is re-opening along the Jersey Shore just in time for summer, and an expansion project will give customers many more options. Jersey Shore Restaurant Group (JSRG) purchased Breakers Kitchen & Tap on Route 9 in Waretown last year. In a news release, JSRG said it will re-launch the restaurant as Three Story Grill, along with a banquet hall called The Hall at Three Story. Three Story Grill will live up to its name by offering three levels of indoor and outdoor dining. The renovation will expand the existing one-story layout of Breakers Kitchen & Tap. JSRG says the new res…

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by Chris Spiker
Middletown, NJ
Traffic
Crash With Injuries Partially Shuts Route 9 (DEVELOPING) Crash With Injuries Partially Shuts Route 9 (DEVELOPING)
Crash With Injuries Partially Shuts Route 9 (Developing) A crash with injuries partially closed Route 9 in Freehold Township, authorities said. The crash occurred at about 8:20 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 18 northbound south of Raceway Mall Drive, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

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by Jon Craig