NJ man, 30, critical after driving without headlights on wrong side of street, cops say

TOMS RIVER — A 30-year-old man remains in critical condition after a serious motor vehicle crash Tuesday in which police say he was driving on the wrong side of the street with his headlights off when he struck a bus.

Police say the crash occurred just before 10:30 p.m. on Route 9, near Fernwood Drive in Toms River. During an investigation, police determined that Kevin Klaus, a resident of Toms River, was traveling south in a 2001 Honda Civic on the wrong side of the road. Police said Klaus was speeding and did not have his headlights on at the time.

At the same time, police said, Dan Gaskill, 51, of Whiting, was driving a 2002 Eagle bus in the opposite direction when he saw the Honda heading toward him.

"Gaskil swerved to the right to avoid a head on impact but was still sideswiped by the Honda," Toms River police said in a statement.

After swerving, the bus struck a utility pole. The driver was not injured but the bus sustained extensive damage, police said.

Klaus' vehicle spun around several times, police say, before crashing into a sign near the Winteringham Village apartment complex. Emergency crews from the Toms River Fire Department responded to the crash scene and worked to extricate Klaus from the vehicle.

The driver was seriously injured, police said. He received medical attention at the scene from Toms River EMS crews and paramedics before being transported via medivac helicopter to Jersey Shore Medical center in Neptune, according to authorities. He remains in critical condition.

Police have not said whether any charges have been filed or summonses issued as a result of the crash.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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