By: Tracie Carter
Toms River Police are investigating the cause of a car crash that killed a resident Saturday morning.
According to a statement released by authorities, at approximately 2:25 p.m., Police and EMS were dispatched to the intersection of Hooper Avenue and South Shore Drive for a reported motor vehicle accident involving an entrapment.
Upon arrival, the vehicle was located in the marsh, flipped over with the occupants trapped inside.
Toms River Police officials said the two passengers were uninjured and manage to free themselves except the driver.
According to police, Mr. Paolo Helfers. Lariva, 28, of Toms River, was trapped and submerged in the water.
Multiple officers entered the water in an attempt to free the driver. With the assistance of Silverton EMS and Silverton Fire Department, the driver was eventually released and CPR was immediately initiated.
Police said Helfers-Lariva was transported to Community Medical Center where, after extensive efforts, he was ultimately pronounced.
The police investigation indicated that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, heading south on Hooper Avenue, when it lost control and left the roadway and struck a pole before overturning in the marsh.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer, Corporal Terry Warren.