Driver Crashes Onto Boardwalk Along Toms River, Charged With DUI: Police
The crash took down a light pole and caused extensive damage to the boardwalk, authorities said.
ISLAND HEIGHTS, NJ — A driver who crashed onto the boardwalk in Island Heights early Sunday has been charged with driving while intoxicated, police said.
Asa Williams, 42, was arrested following the crash that happened about 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, Island Heights police said.
Williams was driving a 2017 Nissan Altima when he lost control in the area of River Avenue and West End Avenue, police said.
Officers Bryan Monachello and Jake Piantanida found the Nissan on the boardwalk, smoking and damaged, along with downed power lines and a downed street light, police said and photos from the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company show.
Part of the boardwalk sustained serious damage as well, authorities said.
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Williams was not injured, police said.
Island Heights firefighters secured the vehicle battery and made sure there was no fire hazard from the power lines that were pulled down with the street light, the fire company said.
In addition to the DWI charge, Williams was ticketed for failure to maintain lane, careless driving, reckless driving and damage to public property, police said. He is to appear in the Island Heights Municipal Court at a later date.
Island Heights First Aid and Island Heights Department of Public Works responded as well.
The damaged portion of the boardwalk has been sectioned off, and authorities urge people to stay off the portion that has been sectioned off with cones and caution tape until it can be repaired, because of safety concerns.
Car crash wreaks havoc on Ocean County boardwalk
Jen UrsilloPublished: February 17, 2025Car crashes onto the boardwalk causing extensive damage (Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company 1 via Facebook)
💥 Car crashes onto a Jersey Shore boardwalk early Sunday morning
💥 The crash took out a light pole
💥 A portion of the boardwalk is closed off
ISLAND HEIGHTS — A bizarre event after a car somehow lost control early Sunday morning, drove up onto the boardwalk in the Ocean County borough and caused a ton of damage.
At approximately 1:18 a.m., Feb. 16, members of the Island Heights police and fire departments, and First Aid received a call about a smoking car after it was involved in an accident on River Avenue.
The car lost control, drove up onto the boardwalk, and caused extensive damage to a portion of the boards, before crashing into and knocking over a street light, bringing down power lines, according to the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Co. 1’s Facebook page.
Crews secured the vehicle battery and made sure there was no fire hazard from the downed power lines. JCP&L crews came to secure power and clean up the street light. The damaged part of the boardwalk has also been taped up until proper repairs can be made.
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No details have been released yet about the driver, the circumstances leading up to the crash, the extent of injuries if any, or if charges have been filed from Island Heights police.
It’s also not clear if weather played a role in the crash, but according to NJ 101.5 Chief Meteorologist, Dan Zarrow, it was 40 degrees, misty, and showery in Island Heights at the time of the accident.
Read More: Car crash wreaks havoc on a NJ boardwalk | https://nj1015.com/car-crashes-onto-island-heights-boardwalk/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Truck smashes through popular Jersey Shore boardwalk
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A commercial vehicle partially fell through the Wildwood boardwalk on Thursday, according to a photographer who happened upon the scene.
The front tires of the flatbed tow truck, which was loaded with equipment, smashed through the floor of the boardwalk.
“I saw the tow truck with two wheels through the boardwalk,” said photographer Dan Robinson, who was on the scene on Thursday afternoon.
Robinson said the area was blocked off with yellow tape, as firefighters and police officers were on the scene.
Wildwood Police and Cape May County officials did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
The incident comes after the city recently announced plans to start using hybrid Ford pickup trucks to tow its sightseeing “tram car.” The tram has been carried by a much smaller bright yellow vehicle since 1949. The Ford trucks will be tested out this weekend.
Last month, USA Today named the iconic boardwalk as number one in an article counting down America’s top 10 boardwalks.
