A 28-year-old woman trying to flee from cops Monday afternoon resulted in a three-vehicle causing crash, according to police.
Michele Morano, 28, of Toms River, was traveling South on Brookside Drive prior to the crash, when she saw a Toms River Police vehicle behind her with its lights on.
Fearing that she was going to get pulled over she accelerated her vehicle in an attempt to “get away.”
She further stated that “she approached Route 37 and was going too fast to stop.” Her car then entered the intersection and struck two other vehicles.
Traffic Investigator David Bartoshek determined that as Morano entered Route 37 she collided with a 2002 Ford pickup that was being driven by Stephen Balogh of Toms River.
Balogh’s vehicle was then pushed into a Toms River school bus that was traveling alongside him to his left. The bus and pickup came to final rest on the grass center median of the six lane highway.
The bus driver, Joanne Sandberg, of Berkley Township was taken to Community Medical center for treatment of a minor injury.
Morano was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune where she is in stable condition for her injuries.
According to police, there were no children aboard the bus at the time of the crash.
The incident began when Officer Ryan Parente attempted to stop Morano’s vehicle for equipment violations and for not having a valid drivers license as she traveled on Brookside Drive.
Morano was charged with eluding a police officer and assault by auto have also been filed against her.
Her bail was set at $25,000.
After she is released from the medical facility she will have to post the bail or be transferred to the Ocean County Jail pending her future court date.
Morano was also charged with not having insurance, reckless driving, and failure to stop at an intersection.
Photos: Toms River Police