HOWELL — A man trying to cross Route 9 in the dark on Sunday night became the second person killed on the busy road in the past two weeks.

Isidro Martinez-Mendez, 51 of Lakewood was hit by a 2016 Honda Accord around 7:45 p.m. while walking across the northbound lanes a quarter mile before Alexander Avenue, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The driver of the Accord, Christina Martinez, 22 of Jackson, has not been charged. A 10-year-old passenger in Martinez's car was not hurt.

Route 9 was closed in both directions for several hours on Sunday night for an investigation.

The location of Sunday's incident is three miles from New Friendship Road in Howell, where 53-year-old Juan Santiago Lopez of Freehold Borough was struck and killed in the early-morning hours of Dec. 2.

The driver of the Mini Cooper driven by Juanean Perez, 21, of Jackson was charged with suspected operation while under the influence and was released.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is in the midst of a safety initiative in neighboring Lakewood that ends on Sunday, following 14 highways deaths

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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