LAKEWOOD — The sound of gunfire sent schools into lockdown on Friday afternoon and the shooting appears to have caused a driver to crash a car.

The gunfire was heard after a crash involving a car near the Ella G. Clarke School near the intersection of E. 5th Street and School Garden Street around 3 p.m., according to Lakewood police. The school is in an area that includes Lakewood Middle School and Lakewood High School. Most students had gone home for the day but some athletes were still at the high school.

Witnesses told police that they saw two other people exit the car and head towards the rear of the Clarke school.

Lakewood school district spokesman Michael Inzelbuch said schools were put on lockdown as a precaution and  K9 units were in the area searching for a gunman.

The Lakewood Scoop, which was first to report the incident, shared video of a car that had hit a utility pole. The car appeared to have been struck by at least one bullet. Police told the Scoop the driver was hospitalized.

Police said no one was taken into custody and the investigation is on going.

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

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