FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies are trying to determine the cause of a motor vehicle collision that claimed the life of a Lakewood resident on the afternoon of Jan. 16.
Just before 1 p.m., Freehold Township police officers responded to the scene of an accident at the intersection of Route 9, Craig Road and East Freehold Road, Freehold Township. The intersection is the border of Freehold Township and Manalapan.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office provided the following account of the incident: Derrick T. Gyengo, 33, of the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge, was driving north on Route 9 in a 2009 Honda Accord when he collided at the intersection with a 2013 Lexus being driven by John Scranton Jr., 59, of Howell.
Authorities said Scranton was turning left from East Freehold Road onto Route 9 south.
After striking the Lexus, Gyengo’s Honda continued northbound on Route 9 and struck a 2003 Toyota Camry. The Camry was being driven by Patricia Limone, 76, of Lakewood. The passenger in the front seat was her husband, James Limone, 78, also of Lakewood.
Authorities said Limone was driving west through the intersection, from East Freehold Road to Craig Road.
Patricia Limone was transported to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, where she was pronounced dead at 2:09 p.m., according to the prosecutor’s office.
James Limone was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. As of Jan. 17, he was in critical condition, according to the prosecutor’s office. No additional update was available.
Gyengo, Scranton and a male passenger in Scranton’s vehicle were not injured in the collision, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Route 9 was closed for several hours as emergency crews worked to clear the crash scene.
The incident remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Freehold Township Police Department and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team.
Providing assistance at the scene were Freehold Township Police Department Traffic Unit Officer Kevin Cherney, the Manalapan Police Department, the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, the East Freehold Fire Department, the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad and MONOC paramedics.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or who has information that may assist the investigative team to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Kristian DeVito at 800-533-7443 or Freehold Township Police Department Detective Daniel Valentine at 732-294-5142.
