Parkway Accident Kills 1, Injures 4

Police say an improper lane change by a pickup truck without its headlights on led to a fatal accident on the Garden State Parkway killing the 87 year old man driver and injuring 4.

State Police say Robert T. Pesteridge Jr. of Middle Township was driving an S10 Chevrolet pickup northbound on the Parkway north of exit 67 in Waretown at 2:45AM without its headlights on and struck a BMW in the center lane as Pesteridge changed lanes.

Perteridge's pickup hit the BMW driven by Stuart Markowitz of Marlboro causing it to spin out and flip over on its side. Perteridge was ejected from the pickup onto the road and was died at the scene from massive trauma to his head and neck.

Markowitz's car ran off the right side of the roadway and hit a guard rail.He and his passengers were taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital for minor injuries.

The accident closed the Parkway for several hours as police cleaned up debris and conducted an investigation.

State Police ask any witnesses to the accident to call 609-296-0503.