Crime & Safety

Probe Continues Into Cause of Fatal Friday Collision

Crash killed Jackson Memorial baseball player, injured three others

The investigation into a near the Route 37 circle is ongoing, according to officials.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Sgt. Ron Heinzman, press officer for the Lakehurst Police Department, said that officers continue to investigate the violent two-car accident, which occurred at 8:45 p.m. near Brown Avenue on Route 37.

According to police, James Volpe, 17, the back-seat passenger in a 2004 Lincoln, was killed in the crash, which split the vehicle in two upon impact.

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Mohel said that the autopsy of Volpe was completed on Sunday at Community Medical Center in Toms River and that the manner of death was determined to be accidental resulting from multiple injuries.

It may take a week or longer until the full findings of the crash are released, according to Heinzman.

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Volpe, a senior reserve outfielder and an often used designated runner for Jackson Memorial High School, was reportedly ejected from the vehicle after the car in which he was a passenger collided with another vehicle, a 2001 Ford Escape driven by Robert Vallee, 41, of Manchester.

Vallee was taken by helicopter to the trauma unit at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune where on Monday he remains in critical condition, according to the hospital's public relations manager Robert Cavanaugh.

Vallee was exiting the Lakehurst circle onto Route 37 East when the accident took place, according to the police investigation.

According to police, Alex Daniele and Christopher Russo, both 17, and Jackson Memorial High School baseball players, were in the front seat of the Lincoln. They were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River with minor injuries, police reported. They were treated at the hospital and released on Saturday.

Mohel did not reveal which teen was driving at the time of the accident, but sources have told  Patch that is was Daniele.

According to initial reports, police said Volpe was thrown from the auto on impact. He was found to be in cardiac arrest, according to police at the scene. 

Volpe was pronounced dead at the scene, at about 9:30 p.m., police said. 

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact Detective David Margentino of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office at 732-929-2027, Ext. 2946, or Lakehurst Patrolman Matthew Kline at 732-657-7812, Ext. 312. 


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