Deadly Lakewood crash: Report points to police pursuit

LAKEWOOD — Many questions remain unanswered about a possible police pursuit turned deadly, when a driver fleeing Toms River police was killed after crashing his car into a tree in Lakewood, causing the car to catch fire on Thursday night.

The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle and CPR was administered after the car hit a pole near the intersection of Cross Street and Massachusetts Avenue just before 9 p.m, according to reports by the Lakewood Scoop. The driver was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus and pronounced dead, the site reported.

Toms River police told the Asbury Park Press the car may have been involved in a chase that was ended before entering Lakewood.

The Scoop, citing unnamed police sources, reported that a second body was also found at the crash scene.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is heading the investigation but has not yet issued a statement.

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

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