On Thursday, January 30, 2014 at approximately 8:27 pm, a Lakehurst Police Officer was assisting with a two car motor vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of State Highway 37 and Commonwealth Boulevard, when he was struck by a passing motor vehicle. Officer Jason Guide, 25, was standing on the paved eastbound shoulder of the roadway speaking with witnesses to the motor vehicle crash, when he was struck by a red Volkswagen Beetle traveling east on State Highway 37. The VW was being operated by Fredrick Shouldice, 54, of Toms River. The Officer was not injured as a result of the impact with the vehicle’s passenger side view mirror. The Officer was on duty and in uniform at the time of the incident. He was utilizing a marked Lakehurst Police vehicle that had its emergency lights activated.
Motorists should use caution when approaching emergency vehicles with flashing lights as required by New Jersey Statute 39:4-92.2 commonly known as the “Move Over Law” which reads as follows:
1. a. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle as defined in R.S.39:1-1 that is displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating red or blue light or, any configuration of lights containing one of these colors, shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a law enforcement officer, proceed as follows:
(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
(2) If a lane change pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section would be impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary tow truck as defined in section 1 of P.L.1999, c.396 (C.39:3-84.6) that is displaying a flashing amber light or a stationary highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle that is operated by the State, an authority or a county or municipality and displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a law enforcement officer, proceed as follows:
(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the tow truck or highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
(2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section would be impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
c. A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500.
This crash is under investigation by Patrolman Antonio Ellis of the Manchester Traffic Safety Section.
For more information about the “Move Over Law”, please visit;
http://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/move-over-law/
In Memory of New jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano Badge 6397