Blizzard strands NJ motorists, deflates Toms River sports bubble

The weekend blizzard that dumped more than a foot and a half of snow across much of the Jersey Shore had motorists scrambling for help, according to State Police.

Between Friday 6 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 p.m, troopers had responded to 283 motor vehicle crashes and 641 motorist aids — which includes spin outs, flat tires and mechanical breakdowns — in areas patrolled by State Police.

In Ocean County, which got among the highest snow totals, an indoor sports bubble was sagging severely under the weight, according to Toms River fire prevention inspectors with IAFF Local 5303.

No one was inside the Bennett indoor athletic complex when it deflated, according to the labor union on its Facebook page. The 'bubble' is at Toms River Intermediate East and owned by Toms River Regional Schools

Such air-supported structures are designed to react to such heavy loads that way and it can be repaired.

By 8:30 a.m. Sunday, state Department of Transportation officials announced the commercial vehicle travel restriction was lifted for all highways.