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Barnegat Motorcyclist Dies In Collision With Ocean County Freeholder In Eagleswood

No charges filed against Freeholder John P. Kelly, accident is under investigation

A 24-year-old Barnegat man was pronounced dead at the scene early Friday evening after his motorcycle collided with a sports utility vehicle driven by Freeholder John P. Kelly, according to the New Jersey State Police.

William Kolb was driving southbound on his black 2011 Harley Davidson at approximately 6:35 p.m., near mile marker 65.5. He attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him, then collided with the right fender of Kelly's 2005 sports utility vehicle when he tried to return to the lane of traffic, said Trooper Joseph Mezzo.

Kelly, 61, West Creek, was traveling northbound on Route 9 and was attempting to make a left turn into the West Creek Deli when the collision occurred, Mezzo said.

Kolb was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe injuries. He died at the scene. Kelly was uninjured, said Mezzo, who is the investigating officer.

No charges have been filed, he said.

"There was nothing criminal that we see at all," Mezzo said. "The accident is under investigation."

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Lisa May 20, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Wow. So much hate, anger and blame in these comments. There was a very tragic accident. My heart goes out to all involved. No need to look for fault. Compassion please.
Mr Coffee Mug May 21, 2012 at 12:39 am
I agree so much negative attitudes. very sad indeed. Prayers to his family, RIP William.
Washer May 21, 2012 at 12:39 am
Friday according to the article
Lori Morrison May 21, 2012 at 01:36 am
We own a Harley and both have tatoos. Drug abuse does not discriminate, but you do. This is a tragedy for all involved, and I hope that there is a full investigation done. Just because Mr. Lacey is a public figure who wears a suit does not prove anything. He is not above the law and testing should be done and the results released to eliminate any question of a proper investigation.
KingNeptune May 21, 2012 at 11:55 am
Police have decided no charges against the Freeholder. Pretty much tells me who was at fault.
Ruby Ryder May 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
@Mrcommonsense, please don't lump all riders into one catagory. I take offense at your "most riders are idiots" comment. My husband and I both ride and we're not careless or reckless. Distracted drivers are our biggest problem, people need to pay attention to the road.
Erric L Zdzchowski May 21, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Common Sense should tell you that it's not so cut and dry ... considering the "no charges" were leveled before the investigation was even completed. Tragic, in all senses, in this case.
Bill Morrison May 21, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Ohhh, Your a Freeholder, Sorry for your inconvience Sir....We will clean this up Sir and get you back on your way Sir. I would love to see who he called right after this happened from the scene. Typical in this world , Blame the biker( little man) and Exonerate the Powerful(politician),They stated No wrong doing on Kellys Part Almost Immediately??? If the biker was here today and Kelly wasnt do you think the biker would be experiencing the same treatment???? NOOOOOO HE Would Not!!!!
Pat May 21, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I just ant to say that no one knows whose fault it is and there should not be blame. We just don't know, we were not there. But to assume that it was the young mans fault just because he rides a bike is absurd. A young man s life was taken too soon and that is the tragedy. So how about we all just send our thoughts and prayers out to his family, who may have lost a son, brother, cousin, uncle nephew boyfriend ect. His family is grieving and doesn't need to read all of the other stuff. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kolb family. RIP.
M'Linda Kula May 21, 2012 at 02:07 pm
@ Kimbo: Many Ocean County Corrupt souls have karma knocking at their doors. @EggsnToast: Many crimes in Ocean County are glossed over because of WHO committed the crimes and who owes favors to the criminals. Karma will be knocking on their doors soon. @ ALL CITIZENS: NEVER SURRENDER to the CORRUPT, by doing NOTHING to stop it.
RedonRed May 21, 2012 at 02:19 pm
Sorry I just went back and reread the article, I deleted my previous comment.
But what I do want to say is if the yopung man was going a reasonable speed and saw brake lights, then he should have been starting to brake himself rather then trying to pass see he couldn't and try to go back into the lane traffic. Lets all be smart here.... the motorcyclist had to be going at a pretty fast speed to hit the bumper and be ejected from his bike ! Not one person here remarked on the speed he was going... you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out he was going fast, hense maybe his trying to pass seeing he couldn't in brake in enough time and tried to get back into traffic. Just saying.
jason May 21, 2012 at 02:21 pm
it is not our freeholders fault , he was trying to find new ways to spend our tax money . rip young man !!! very very sad
KingNeptune May 21, 2012 at 02:29 pm
Sorry, but I see "riders" ride like idiots all the time. Weaving in and out of traffic, just because they can. And yes, it's Harley riders too not just the crotch rockets as some other poster stated.
KingNeptune May 21, 2012 at 02:31 pm
Funny how so many are saying we shouldn't disparage the rider, who caused his own demise, but it is certainly ok to disparage the Freeholder, who by all accounts did nothing wrong here.
M'Linda Kula May 21, 2012 at 02:50 pm
@ Sal: The system is BROKEN. It only works for the few who are in charge. The many who can NOT benefit by a just system MUST use their VOICE and VOTE to CLEAN-UP THE SYSTEM.
Jersey Girl May 21, 2012 at 03:35 pm
The problem is that everyone jumps to concolusions before any proof. Unfortunatly we will never know Will's side of the story. Yes he passed on the right and heading back into the lane, was the truck that hit him paying attention? Maybe if he was he would of saw him, was the truck speeding to beat the car that was trying to be passed by the motorcycle?? You never know and never will know. This could go both ways....so think out of the box because the truck could of very well been in a rush also, if he was fully stopped he would of saw the motorcycle.
We just should all refrain from the comments, one mans life was lost and another one is affected so lets just all be mature and stop posting nonsence and let it be. This would be the right thing to do to respect both families.
RedonRed May 21, 2012 at 03:37 pm
Jersey Girl... HE hit the SUV who was waiting to make a left hand turn.
Go back and read the article. But you are right we don't know what happened and even if he lived to tell his story would it be the truth ?
Sal Sorce May 21, 2012 at 03:46 pm
As stated, if the 24-year old was driving the van, and the Freeloader
was on HIS motorcycle, guarantee that blood and alcohol testing would have been taken ... the news reported that no criminal offense had occurred ... who are they kidding??? Judge, jury and sentencing by the officer on site who was NOT at the scene of this incident ... how can such a statement be allowed to stand?? The Freeloader was cutting into the south bound lane based upon first comment ... factually possible as YOU & I are not allowed to break into the flow of traffic ... I know of a friend who received a ticket for crossing over a yellow line dividing Rt.9 as was the Freeloader ... under state laws the solid yellow line is a fixed barrier, no one crossing such can be ticketed ... news reported Kelly was crossing Rt. 9 into his Crik Deli business ... did he make a bad judgement and cut into the oncoming cycle ... not a chance for survival ... God Bless the young man and his family.
Sal Sorce May 21, 2012 at 03:57 pm
anyone one crossing a solid yellow line is in violation of state law.
when the Freeloader was crossing rt.9 was he clear of oncoming traffic? law states that YOU & I cannot interrupt the oncoming flow of traffic and YOU must be knowingly aware of ALL traffic before you proceed to cross over ... new jersey NO FAULT LAW will find both are in violation ... beat that law-drum??? I gave up bikes in early 70's due to influx of traffic and something as simple as beach stones flowing out of driveways and into roads ... anyone ever have a roll-over due to a simple beach stone??
RedonRed May 21, 2012 at 04:19 pm
Alot of questions and no one to tell the TRUTHFUL answers.
His word, their word, and the truthful word !
Eggs-n-Toast May 21, 2012 at 04:51 pm
Don't "cloud the issue"?
How about you not "simplify the death of a young man" Mr so-called Common Sense? And stop policing the comments section according to _your_ opinion and standards.
Eggs-n-Toast May 21, 2012 at 04:52 pm
There you go, policing comments and opinions again.
Randy May 22, 2012 at 08:46 pm
Here's a perfect example of inexperience & stupidity. What parent in there right mind would let there kid with no street experience own and ride a 2011 H-D ether sportster or full size. One, there way overpriced & two, there way too powerful for a young man to handle. Doing stupid stunts anywhere on Rt.9 is asking for trouble.
I really don't feel sorry for the parents. I feel for Mr. Kelly who was involved in a killing at no fault of his, just because he wanted a Deli sandwich. Now he has to live for rest of his life knowing he killed someone, just because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, when someone got stupid on a bike.
Mare May 22, 2012 at 09:56 pm
Redonred, how fast did you say he was going when you observed him? That's what I thought. They didn't give a speed and I was stating fact, you were gu
essing.
John B Taxpayer May 23, 2012 at 12:08 am
Randy you are an insensitive A-Hole!
Screw you! There are 20 year olds flying Gunships in Afghanistan..... your remark about their parents? Also, learn how to spell, moron!
RedonRed May 23, 2012 at 12:39 am
John B THIS is why you should be flagged... NO reason to be rude and crude!
Uncalled for...
bill May 23, 2012 at 03:52 am
the problem with the whole thing is that not everyone is honoring the memory of the man that was killed...but the papers are quick to praise the freeholders long history as a politician..the only way for a fair investigation is to not allow ocean county goverment to be involved in it...i know from own issues with them, they like to cover things up for their own...its all about an image they want to protect...his carreer should not excuse him from this..we need to stop voting these people in that think they can just throw their weight around because of the job they have or the title in goverment...people need to focus on the man that died and stop giving this politician anymore attention regarding who he is or works..he a average person after goverment closes at 4:30pm monday threw friday....the title of freeholder is a job title in goverment...so people need to just refer to him as john kelly of west creek nj.....now saying this i FEEL VERY SORRY FOR THE KOLBS FAMILY and may you have the justice and closer that you deserve....
bill May 23, 2012 at 04:21 am
randy...by the way i am sure he wasnt doing tricks on route 9 since the state police are located right before where the accident happened...the day it happened it was a friday evening around 6:30 pm (it is still good light out until 8 pm or later), he was on the way to his deli (kelly's deli next to west creek liquor store)...yes they are both wrong---mr kelly> for crossing double yellow lines while turning left----kolb for passing on the right...but if i am correct the person going straight has the right away no matter if they passing on the right or not....mr kelly should had made sure that no one was coming before turning...so by saying the things you are it makes most of us feel you think it is alright for mr kelly to be right because of who he is monday threw friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm (freeholder kelly from ocean county).. his title and political position should not make it ok to not carry the same rules and laws as me and all the other people who dont carry those titles in goverment would have to follow and be held to...regardless of who you think is right (YOU NEVER SAY I DONT FEEL SORRY FOR THE FAMILY OF THE PERSON THAT DIED) they died and no matter right or wrong..its hard on that family--would you want that said about someone you care about and love...yes we are intitled to our own opinions...i have a family member that was hit head on by someone that should not have been behind the wheel...he was stopped at stop sign waiting to turn....he survived thankfully
John B Taxpayer May 23, 2012 at 09:01 am
Just honest, you spineless jellyfish. Which of my amendments, that I fought, for would you like to take away from me? The 1st? The 2nd? The 4th?
Molon labe- Come and Take 'em!
Richard Lomauro May 26, 2012 at 01:14 am
Will was a very good friend of mine and a VERY smart person. He would have never passed a car "in a hurry heading into on coming traffic" Some of these comments are just plain rude and inconciderate... I understand accidents happen but at the same time, people need to take responsiblity for their actions.
PS- who here can honestly say they havent passed a car on the right before? this is new jersey, if you dont pass on the right then everyone honks and calls you an asshole.
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gerald laquay June 16, 2013 at 04:25 pm
Great story hope he is doing good,i just went through a bone marrow tranplant well actuallyi amRead More doing good it is 100 percent of the new stem cell an 92 percent which leavesme with 8 percent of myself the new stem cells will take over my whole body once the 8 percent is gone so godbless you an your family hope everything works out
proud June 17, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Best of luck you @Patricia.
Judy Sobko June 17, 2013 at 04:24 pm
Good luck- you will be missed!!! -JS
barb June 17, 2013 at 11:00 pm
guess it will be awhile before we get patch stories up? all that we have now are observer and app,Read More blah.
Trish June 8, 2013 at 01:26 am
I'm glad you are home. We are still repairing in LBI but, hopefully, we will back by the 4th ofRead More July. This was not our "primary" home but it still was our home. We will never forget Oct. 29, 2012.
foggyworld June 8, 2013 at 02:24 am
This has been one heck of a learning experience and yes, it has exhausted so many of us. The onlyRead More way to keep going really is to take it one day at a time and know if you wake up tomorrow something you never dreamed of is bound to happen.
answertwoit June 5, 2013 at 10:52 pm
all three siddons lost. Kukla Fran and Ollie... you ran for revenge and not for the people. itRead More showed and you lost.
Brian Wilson June 6, 2013 at 02:12 pm
Quit whining, Fran. You were always just in it for yourself. You wanted to be "CouncilwomanRead More Fran Siddons." Most people saw right through you. You biggest mistake was believing your inflated sense of self.
Terry LiCausi June 7, 2013 at 02:43 pm
Why couldn't you just write a classy speech, you chose to look like a sore loser once again. YouRead More listed reasons for losing and you and I both, know you tried to talk to the board workers and the Republican Challenger had to ask you to stop. You stood right outside the doors and tried to talk to voters also, you did this at all the polling places. You had 3 challengers to 1 republican challenger at the polls, so how could all that you say get done. Why didn't they call the election board? Come on Fran, just admit the people DO REMEMBER and that is why you lost.