Chambers Bridge Rd. conditions examined
Lighting, other factors looked into after boy’s death
BY DANIELLE MEDINA
Correspondent

Possible street lighting improvements on Chambers Bridge Road will be studied in the aftermath of a car accident that killed a 12-year-old township boy, officials said last week.

Although the accident that killed Michael J. Cardaio, Lakeland Drive, on Nov. 16 is still under investigation by the Brick Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit, officials believe that poor lighting on one of Brick’s busiest roads may have been a contributing factor.

Cardaio, a student at St. Thomas Christian Academy, was on his way home from the library at around 7 p.m. when he hopped over the median and was struck by a 2003 Mazda. So far, no charges have been filed against the driver of the car, Ermalindo D. Roman, 21, of Lakewood.

“The lighting leaves a lot to be desired on a road that is so heavily traveled,” Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli said at the township caucus meeting Nov. 23.

Brick Township High School, the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library, the township municipal complex and police department, as well as a number of businesses are all located on Chambers Bridge Road, Route 549.

Scarpelli said he went out to the site last week and noted the sparseness of the lights, and that many of the street lights were either not functioning or blinking.

“There are no lights on the side of the street where the library is,” he said.

Scarpelli went on to say that a survey conducted by the police department and Birdsall Engineering, Eatontown, is currently under way to determine how often the lights on Chambers Bridge Road go on and off.

“Right now there’s lighting on every fourth pole,” Scarpelli said. “Maybe it should be on every pole in some places.”

Scarpelli added that township officials have been in contact with Jersey Central Power & Light to find out the possibility of installing high-intensity lighting on the street.

According to Township Business Administrator Scott MacFadden, any lighting improvements made to the street would be the financial responsibility of the township.

Since the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, officials would not comment on any other possible causes.

“Speed has not yet been determined to be a factor,” township Police Lt. Douglas Kinney said last week.

Since Chambers Bridge Road is well-signed and the road is a favorite place for police to run radar on passing motorists, there are no plans at this time to change the speed limit, Kinney said.

He added that the department has received some phone calls about the accident from motorists who may have been in the area on Nov. 16, but they haven’t received that “magical call.”

Anyone who has any information about the accident should call (732) 262-1100.