Brick man may have "blacked out" causing collision in Toms River

A Brick man who was practicing some deep breathing techniques said he may have "blacked out" prior to crossing the double yellow lines and striking another car at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Washington Street Saturday afternoon, around 4:55 pm.

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Toms River Police said Thomas P. Zimmerman, 19, was heading in the left lane southbound on Hooper Avenue at the time of the crash.

A rear passenger in the Toyota Zimmerman hit sustained severe head trauma and was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center.

The driver and another passenger in the Toyota were also transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center via ambulance for non-life threatening injuries.

Zimmerman was brought to Community Medical Center for treatment and observation.

Police said there was no indication of impairment or cell phone use but that Zimmerman give consent to submit blood samples to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office pending toxicological testing for intoxicants.

He also voluntarily consented to the searching of his cell phone and vehicle by Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Police believe that the serious head injuries the rear passenger of the Toyota suffered is due to failure to properly wear a seatbelt.

This crash remains under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer PJ Gambardella and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit.

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