On Sunday January 26, 2020 at approximately 3:09 AM police were dispatched to Route 37 E near the intersection of Route 166 for reports of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. The 17 year old male victim, from Bayville, was repordedly just leaving work when he attempted to cross Route 37 in a southbound direction. The juvenile was approximately 60โ from the crosswalk when he entered the roadway and was struck by an oncoming vehicle driven by Mark Roma, 46 of Toms River, who was travelling eastbound with a green traffic signal.
Preliminary investigation revealed speed was not a factor in the accident and there were no indications of driver impairment. Witnesses stated at the time the pedestrian entered the roadway there was a no pedestrian crossing signal activated indicating pedestrian traffic could not cross the roadway, it was also stated he was wearing darker clothing. The victim was taken to Community Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
The incident is being investigated by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Robert Westfall. Also assisting on scene was OC Sheriff CIU, New Jersey State Police, and the DOT Diversion Team. We would like to thank all responding agencies. Our thoughts are with all involved.
Luis Martinez
Oh no, this is terrible . So sad????
Sad, RIP. Condolences to family
Awful..so young just awful. Condolences to his family.
Very tragic
A pedestrian bridge is needed over Rt 37. How simple can this get.
Rick Salamon agree
Rick Salamon where??? Every 100 feet????
This is so upsetting may he Rest In Peace.
So sad, condolences to his family
So sad
So sad ????
Horrible
Oh man what horrible news ???? my heart goes out to everyone involved
Idk how many people have to die at the intersection before the township does something
Jacqueline DeCaro how many people have to cross the street without looking before we realize that itโs the pedestrians who are at fault??
Bry Pino this is a tragic accident but I have to agree with you. I mean common sense look both ways before crossing and people do not even bother to stop they just walk right out to cross! Cars have enough responsibility with watching the road and other drivers …a lot of who are usually texting and on their phones whiles driving these days….pedestrians have to be mindful and responsible as well when walking onto the roads and crossing! Everyone needs to take precautions and just be mindful and safe!
Daneen Matulewicz and Iโm not trying to diminish the tragedy. It is so preventable.
Iโm right there with you, pedestrians are 100% at fault. I would never cross that road and if I did I would pay close attention. But you canโt change poor decisions people make. But now these people driving have to live with the decision the other person made by improperly crossing. Sooo something needs to change. I can tell you people will not stop crossing that road so a pedestrian bridge would be a good start
Bry Pino pedestrian may not be perfect but c’mon, u gotta be zoning out something fierce to not see someone walk in the road over there even wearing all dark. Open your eyes your driving a motor vehicle on a highway.
And I’m sorry but at 3am, alot of those other driver responsibilities listed here are null and void, leaving u all the time and attention span in the world to focus on what’s left..such as a random pedestrian entering the highway
Every damn day.
So sad ????????????
Nothing new on that road been happening as long as I can remember…..we obviously needed a concrete ferris wheel more than a pedestrian bridge..just goes to show those tourism dollars are more important than the locals
Ron Wyckoff What a stupid statement A 17-year-old boy has just lost his life and youโre so ignorant you put something like that
Ron Wyckoff do your research it was gifted and the foundation that gifted it calls the shots where their money goes! Was not tourism money. A pedestrian bridge is the states call over a NJ highway.
Theresa Russo heโs right. The township should be investing in a pedestrian bridge with the amount of injuries/deaths that have occurred here but instead the money is being put towards useless garbage. This poor kid died because of how unsafe that road is.
Heather Clausen its not the township, do your research has nothing to do with TR its a state highway.
Heather Clausen he died because he walked in front of a car.
How awful! Condolences to his family
Prayers to the victimโs family, the first responders and to the driver.. his life is changed forever it was a horrible accident… so sad all the way around..
How awful. Rest in paace prayers for his family and friends.
????heart breaking
Anybody know the deceaseds name?
Dirah Croom Iโm wondering the same I have 17 year olds and wonder if they know him. Iโd like to talk to them before they find out in school. Itโs so heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the family.
Laura Clark Genovese so sad. They’ve got to do something about this corner and many others in Ocean County. It happens way too often!
I was also wondering with a teen who goes to school in Bayville.
His name is Silverio. I’m not sure of his last name
He was an amazing person
Dirah Croom Silverio…not sure of his last name
Kari Buser He use to go to Cental Regional he was my sons best friend since 4th grade ????????very hard working young guy very respectful!!
Tonya Sue Davis Silverio Montes
So sad ???? RIP
So sad may he rest in paradise ????
My deepest condolences to the families
Horrible.
Prayers for his family
So sad my condolences to the family!
???????????? !
Horrible. Condolences to the family.
Rip
Sad but at 3am how many cars are actually on 37. This is very unfortunate.
so sad
They need to build a pedestrian bridge there or a cross walk!
Bernadette Daisy you mean like the crosswalk that was 40 feet away that he didnโt bother using???
Bry Pino hmm they must of j-walked then.
RIP young man.
How awful. My heart breaks for his family and friends. ????
This poor family so sorry for your loss!
Sad news. Condolences to his family.
This is so sad and praying go out to him and his family.
Am I the only one that is bothered by the fact that a 17 year old is working until 3am.
George Taylor I was going to say the same thing. I thought minors cant work past 10pm. May be RIP, gone way too soon????????
Heather Farquharson according to labor laws he should not have been working, the law states on non school nights 16 and 17 year old can work no later then 12 AM and on school nights no later then 11 PM. His job violated the nj labor laws on both school and non school nights. The 10 pm rule is for 15 and under.
All the FB scholars here this morning!
So very sad and tragic. Prayers for the family and the 17 year old.
Camille Testa i passed it on my way to work. Ugh. So sad
Anna Roma-Jones did you see the name of the driver? Same last name as you. So very sad.
So terribly sad
Prayers for his Family โค๏ธ????????
This is heartbreaking. ????
Why is a bridge needed? Iโm honestly asking this question. Why not push the cross walk button and wait for it to change and then cross. Iโve seen many do this during the day and cross successfully.
Michele Dimeo EXACTLY
Michele Dimeo Yeah because nobody EVER speeds up to try to make the light and hits a pedestrian. Push the button. ????????
Adele Marie many people speed up to make the light. But Iโm pretty sure if you wait a second to make sure everyone has come to a stop youโll cross successfully. ????
Michele Dimeo or just be aware of your surroundings in certain potentially dangerous situations…itโs unfortunate that a young man lost his life but play stupid games win stupid prizes
Kyle Lucyk my husband just said the same comment to me. It truly is unfortunate. There are several things that could have been done to avoid this tragedy.
Michele Dimeo a mother just lost her kid and you guys are on a public forum talking about this CHILD
Ang Lugo Iโm not talking about the kid. If you read my other messages youโll see that my heart goes out to him and his family. Itโs a horrible tragedy that could have been avoided.
My heart goes out to this young man and his family. โค๏ธ
????????
It is very sad and I feel horrible for everyone involved
Now everyone don’t go postal on me with the rest of my comment
AS A PARENT my question is
What is a 17 year old doing out at 3am and walking on 37 to begin with?
Seriously? If I wasn’t home by 11:30 at that age and my kids weren’t home by midnight we were out looking for them or calling them
Sadly part of this is today’s parents not paying attention
Christine Hinds he was leaving work, it says in the article.
Christine Hinds donโt be afraid to read the article. He was working.
Pamela Walker doesnt matter why are the parents NOT picking him up and minors are not allowed to work past 11 pm
Bry Pino read my reply still on the parents and the employer
Christine Hinds why was this young (17) year old working at that hour? Are there laws against that?
Christine Hinds my condolences to the family also and my concern was the same, I believe under 18 can not work past 10pm week days and 11pm weekends. That was the rule when I was a manager has it changed?
Christine Hinds yes they are with patental permission
Because some people take the late night hours. Shift happens. RIP ???? to this young man and his family. Sad.
Christine Hinds where do you read this..school night? I walked miles to work at 14..
Christine Hinds Maybe his parents Needed him to work. 17 is really not that far off from being an adult. He was at least trying to do the right thing. Made an unfortunate mistake that many make at that intersection.
Denise Falone Ferriolo and was it.3am????
Adele Marie said absolutely NOTHING about it being a school night so get off your high horse
Yes teach people how to cross the street while they are still in school. These deaths are so preventable.
Bry, did it EVER occur to you that the driver may have jumped the light……..
Mary Locetta Friedman Another one who did not read the article. The police already said that the driver had the green light
Mary Locetta Friedman and the kid crossed 100 ft before the crosswalk
Feel free to read the Rules of the road. PEDESTRIAN ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.
Adele Marie really??? You are a foolish person if you really believe that
Adele Marie no…not where there are cross walks with crossing lights…you need to try it in NYC..cross before the????
Adele Marie you’re right. The pedestrian does have the right of way IN A CROSS WALK which according to some comments this child was not in. Have you ever driven there at that time of night? I have and it’s hard to see someone dressed in dark colors that is crossing in an illegal area.
Anyone ever realize the whole article is written as they wanted it written to ensure no guilt on the driver due to him being a highly decorated and established leuitenant in multiple areas and a Sgt previously. You think if any of us clobbered a kid at 3am on a saturday night/Sunday morning they’d be so quick to clear us of any wrong doing? Of course, they say he was nowhere near the crosswalk..and of course, the driver had the green and the pedestrian didn’t have a go. Notice every detail of the article just happens to protect the driver from any and all fault while simultaneously incriminating and placing blame on the 17 year old kid? Read between the lines not the lines themselves..
Another lunatic. It doesnโt clear anyone. It says itโs still under investigation. Itโs just stating some facts available at the time the article was written
Sad to hear.
So sad. Prayers to family
My prayers to this young man’s famly ????????…..*** and to the people wondering why he was working & crossing 37 at 3 am?…He was WORKING…prob at 1 of the restaurants in the nearby plaza…how about you show some damn compassion for him & his family! You shouldn’t be so judgemental, there are plenty of teens that are partying & causing trouble at this hour…he was WORKING!!! Have a heart people…please…
Erin J. Anderson I feel very sorry for this child and family but Iโm pretty certain that being under 18 he should not have been working that late.
Erin J. Anderson everyone has been very compassionate as I can see. People are questioning the place he worked which put this young man out there at that time.
Noel Raimondo Hatzinikitas ..true but I know there are places that pay “under the table” to minors…at least it used to be that way many years ago when I was a teen..
Noel Raimondo Hatzinikitas you are right. And that’s why people are asking. Wherever he is working is not following labor laws. My niece is the same age. And they aren’t able to work after a certain time. Not that it matters I mean a kid is dead
That is horrible. But I think thats why people are saying stuff about him being out at 3am.
Erin J. Anderson is it really a surprise that labor laws arenโt followed to the letter? Itโs not like he was 14. 17 is not that far from being an adult-
Noel Raimondo Hatzinikitas that’s incorrect. it’s completely legal and he worked that late on a regular basis
Erin J. Anderson exactly. I know the boy and family. He was working at the diner and likely walking home. He was a sweet boy, and this is just a tragedy.
Mary Foran Britanak ????????????
Mary Foran Britanak ..Im so sorry for your loss…xo
This page sometimes shows the most vile of comments.
Prayers for all involved.
WHERE ARE THE PARENTS??
Letting their 17 yr old out at 3am alone crossing a major highway is not very good parenting.
Was he supposed to take his parents to work with him so they could walk him home?
No but if my son worked until 3am I’m making sure he has a ride home.
Hbu?
Melanie Nau Keating it also is against the working laws to allow a 17 year old to work that late. Overall horrible situation. But that company should prob be looked into. ???? after all is said and done of course this is tragic but I would hate to see another young kid leaving work this late and at risk ????RIP so many prayers to the family
Jackie Thomas Certain jobs are able to work after midnight with permission from parents if there is no school the next day
Frank Backle hmm didnโt know that. Good to know thanks
Jackie Thomas Canโt find what jobs they were but working until 3 am over there it must have been BWW or Shop Rite. I donโt know what else is open
He is 17 not 7..The Parents? You people dont know what his life was about. The guy was working , his mistake he tried crossing on red..so sad
Paul Maliczyszyn I would too but maybe he wasnโt that fortunate to have that, or they had no car, home with younger siblings, working also, etc…. seems like he was heading to the bus stop
Frank Backle many places have after hours shifts shoprite is one of them
Melanie Nau Keating likely his father was working also and the family has only one car. Peoples circumstances sometimes force them into not ideal situations
Melanie Nau Keating someone is dead and youโre criticizing someone on their parenting? Get some damn priorities
Paul Maliczyszyn absolutely!!
Jackie Thomas maybe he got off early and was hanging out too ????????โโ๏ธ sad situation
Denise Falone Ferriolo still a minor! Would you let your kid be out on a highway at 3am??
Mary Foran Britanak then the kid gets a job closer to home and not somewhere he is on a major highway at 3am. Just not smart
Erin Neary yup!! If the parents did not let him out on a hwy at 3am maybe he would still be here today!!
Melanie Nau Keating so easy to pass judgement on people and circumstances you have no idea about! As for me, im going to mourn this tragedy and visit a family in pain to try to comfort them. I pray youre never faced with such a great loss.
Melanie Nau Keating he worked with his father at a restaurant. Also with parental consent a minor over the age of 15 can work late nights as long as the employer has either a written permission note from the parents, or verbal approval. The kid probably got out earlier than his father, or he was not on the schedule for that night. He was crossing the street to get to bus so he could go home to be with his family. Either way may this CHILD R.I.P ???? AND CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY!!
Because some people or inconsiderate
Mary Foran Britanak I hopefully wont because I would not allow my kids to be walking across a hwy at 3am alone
Jessica Lynn It is very sad!! Too bad the dad didnt go pick him up and let him be out that late alone. Poor child
Melanie Nau Keating yeah maybe you wouldn’t do that..allow them at 3am blah blah blah etc etc etc, however, there’s about 6 million 7 hundred thousand other decisions you have to make and one day you just might make the wrong call and hopefully then you’ll remember this thread and how you judged the parents for this.
So sad so young ????
Prayers to the family at such a horrible time โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ. To those asking โwhere are the parents??โ You never know someoneโs situation, could be a single parent out working themselves. So quick to judge….
Sharyn Alissa ..thats what I was saying!!! Maybe he was the sole supporter of his family…maybe they didn’t own a car…maybe he’s on his own…we don’t know..therefore, we shouldn’t judge & assume…
Erin J. Anderson exactly!! You NEVER know someoneโs situation and passing ANY kind of judgement at these times does nothing but show ignorance and cause extra pain to the already hurting family. Itโs just downright CRUEL!
For real. Maybe heโs already out of school and this is his full time job. My brother we graduated when he was 17 because of when his bday fell. He was already into his first year of college and had a job before he turned 18. People need to chill. This guyโs poor family is grievingโน๏ธ
Are 17 year olds allowed to work past 11pm?? We weren’t when I was 17…
Jessica Lynn Boccelli nope ????????????
Jackie Thomas where would they have been working that’s crazy so sad
Jessica Lynn Boccelli Buffalo Wild Wings closes at 2 but then thereโs clean up . Social 37 I believe the same. Other than that I have no idea ????
Jessica Lynn Boccelli No they aren’t allowed to work past 11.
Jessica Lynn Boccelli you can, unless a school night..if he was driving a car, then no
If they aren’t in school yes they can.
Jessica Lynn Boccelli Im not in school& 17 years old i work past 1 am every night and drive myself
home as long as u have ur clock out slip and prove u were working u are fine
So sad for all involved. Prayers to all the people involved.
Very sad RIP
So very sad for all involved. ????????
Kim Reilly Deluca he was leaving the diner , he was a dishwasher. His dad got sick and canโt work anymore so he was working . Aprilโs boyfriend works with him he just say him last night as they all left . Itโs so sad cause he was so young
Cristy Poperowitz ,so tragic..
Kim Reilly Deluca it is
I believe that with parental consent, 17 year olds may work until 3AM on nights when there’s no school the next day.
Kerri Meyer Schulman you are correct.
Prayers for this family. I don’t understand why a 17 yo was working until 3am. I thought 11pm was the cutoff if under 18.
Tragic. So very Sad for Family
I hate to say it but a lot of kids these days walk around and do everything with a phone in their hand, looking down and checking it every 30 seconds. It distracts them from focusing on the tasks at hand. There had to be a distraction and or the boy was super tired from just getting off work at 3 am and thought he did look. Itโs tragic no matter what the circumstances. My heart goes out to this boys family, especially his mother and father. As a parent my heart aches when I hear things like this. There really canโt be any worse kind of pain.
Queeno Vroominy so youโre assuming he was on his phone?
Itโs possible is what Iโm saying.
Queeno Vroominy it’s also possible that this guy was drunk and speeding but they were so quick to say he wasn’t speeding or impaired. Oh, and that triggered me to look up the driver. Interesting thing he’s a leuitenant in Port Monmouth I believe who lives in toms River. I dont someone else would have been so quickly cleared of being at fault. 6 hours after the incident they already got a whole story about how it’s basically the pedestrians fault and the driver is already decided not speeding and not impaired. Any one of us been in this situation and not a chance they’d be saying that so quickly. Especially at 3am on a Saturday night / sunday morning. Just some food for thought. A completely different angle than the one u stated
Kenneth Gregg great vantage point ????????
Kenneth Gregg and ya know what I just realized? They took a TRAUMA victim to community!! Trauma is supposed to go to Jersey Shore bc they HAVE a trauma center. Just maybe he would have lived.
Queeno Vroominy
Jessica Ann Hackensack meridian health?
Ok I see. Missed that before. So so sad. Wonder how long it took for ems to arrive.
This is so sadโฆ Many prayers to this young man’s family as well as the driver who I believe I knew many years ago . ????????????????????
Jennifer Sherman messaged u
Thatโs against the Law a 17 yr old to be working that late
My heart goes out to his family and friends ????
Sorry to say but I do find it suspect that the driver at 3am on a Sunday morning who they are already confidently stating is not at fault and was not under the influence just happens to be a leuitenant in I believe port monmouth who lives in toms River. Let’s just say if he wasn’t, I don’t think 6 hours later he’d already be publicly clearly of wrongdoing and intoxication.
Kenneth Gregg rite
Kenneth Gregg I said the same thing I said something is not rite
Tamara Easton Roberta like when are they so quick to clear someone for something like this.. normally it would just be will being investigated
Tamara Easton Roberta infact I just reread it just to double check, and reading it again was only worse.. you can see right off the bat first thing they did is put the blame on the pedestrian and decided speed and impairment were not a factor. First words practically “he was 60 feet from the crosswalk”…..
Driver may not have seen the teen in dark clothing, but if the car was traveling a normal speed, and had lights on, the teen would have seen a car coming, correct?
Sharon Lynn Huber ok, but if he was driving at a normal speed with lights on, he should have seen him. Even with dark clothes. They tend to get more visible with the use of headlights.
Kenneth Gregg you are making it seem like he’s a cop and that’s why there’s a “cover up”. Please get your facts straight Mark was in the armed forces and was a lieutenant at Fort Monmouth.
Robyn Cherubini sounds like my facts were close enough. And you received my hint properly
Awww so sad
Condolences to both families, the lives of both are forever changed.
Very sad. People drive like fools on 37 and in general!
Kathii Maria Schattner
Thoughts and prayers…
Are 17-year-old allowed to work till 3 AM
Bruce Beyer yes.
Bruce Beyer No, they cannot work past 11pm.
Sharon Lynn Huber no
Sharon Lynn Huber
Bruce Beyer https://www.nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/lsse/mw-129.pdf
In restaurants and seasonal it appears they can work until 3am
William Cairns Jr. Maybe they can but they probably shouldn’t
Bruce Beyer Not true at all im 17 and work in Manasquan (live in tomsriver) & work til almost 1 am every night so
Tori Kearney you canโt work that late during school days?
William Cairns Jr. That is only during school vacation season or with written permission of a parent/guardian if on a day not preceding a school day
Melissa Manvell it clearly says that yes but the last line in the restaurant/seasonal contradicts, also it says its the same as general employment which has exceptions to the 11pm rule. How do you know he didnโt have written permission?
William Cairns Jr. Exactly we don’t know and prob won’t find that out
True, although itโs irrelevant to the situation anyway but Iโll go out on a limb and say the business he was employed by understands the labor laws and wasnโt using illegal child labor.
I just feel so sad for this boy, his family and the driver too! Why didn’t he have a ride home?! Maybe walking to the bus stop…who knows! My son is 17, I just can’t imagine!
Melissa Manvell same, who knows why. Seems like he was a hard working kid too, Especially to be leaving at 3am.
William Cairns Jr. Exactly so sad!
This poor family
Cover up if I ever heard one SMFH I Hope the Family goes above to make him pay if he was DWI or DUI , Why was this 17 yr old working past 11 pm
Many ?? for this RIP young man gets Justice ????????????????
Laura Bryant oh thank God I found someone else who sees through this whole thing
Laura Bryant this could have been any one of us driving at night not at all expecting that someone in dark clothing would walk out in front of our car against the light. Maybe he couldn’t stop in time? It doesn’t mean that he was under the influence. I’m sure he feels awful enough without those sort of statements being made.
Kenneth Gregg Jesus Christ. Get a grip. The CHILD was walking across 37 at 3 am. Where you there? If not shut your mouth.
Amanda Thornton ????
Laura Bryant why do you think this is a cover up? I would really like your expert opinion on this since you were there and all!
JoAnn Kopenhafer Robillard how about don’t assume everything is all peaches and cream. I don’t care what time it is how dark it is, you open your eyes, pay attention WELL AHEAD OF TIME, and then you don’t clobber and kill anyone. So, you shut your mouth as well as you have no evidence against what I’m saying. If you don’t know articles are written to make you believe what they want you to believe, then I suggest you wake up, it’s 2020 and that’s the world we live in.
Oh and my bad i forgot at 3am nobody’s supposed to bother watching for people or anything in the middle of the road cuz they shouldn’t be there so hell with it, close your eyes and drive on thru, ..seriously c’mon gimme a break , no excuse for this senseless death of a 17 year old.
????????????
Shannon Kennedy
Jennifer Lively
My thoughts and prayers to both families.. pedestrian and driver didn’t plan or deserve this..
I agree Heather the man who hit him will never be the same even if it was not his fault. Just tragic.
RIP prayers to the family
This is so sad
Mr. Roma used to also be a teacher at high school east. This is a very unfortunate accident. I don’t think his career choice should be a factor, especially because it’s not even listed on FB. It was 3am on a Sunday. I work overnights so I know how hard it is to have a schedule where you’re up at that time. It’s possible for bad things to happen without anyone being directly at fault. I know he’s probably sick over this. Prayers to everyone involved, Mr. Roma and his kids/family, and the pedestrians family.
Sylviane Jackson I believe Mr Roma the East teacher was Rob Roma…I believe the Mr Roma in the accident is Mark Roma
Kathleen Schoeneick Konopka you are correct this is NOT a teacher.
My heart goes out to everyone involved ๐
If it was your son would you want to read some of these comments. Its tragic regardless so just say sorry for your loss or shut up. Start another forum to discuss safety and your concerns and rants. Not on this thread.
so sad
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Um thatโs against labor laws to be working that late under the age of 18
Zack Matthew restaurants 17 can work until 3am
what a trajedy for both parties. RIP young man ๐
Sending Prayers ????
sad
Sending Prayers
Prayers for his family. Let him soar with the angels ????????????
I was at the diner talking to him at 2 am.. such a shame, what a nice kid and hard worker. Prayers to the family.????
So sad ????, sending prayers ????????
This is so very sad, your opinions are NOT needed!!!