Fatal Van Zile Road crash still under investigation

BRICK TOWNSHIP — An elderly woman was killed and another woman injured in a two-car crash on Van Zile Road recently, police said.

Jean Stephan, 81, Brick, died at Ocean Medical Center shortly after the 11:33 a.m. accident on Oct. 29, police said.

She was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, Philip, 83. Stephan was traveling northbound on Van Zile Road, near Kentwood Boulevard when he tried to make a left turn into the parking lot of the Shoppes at Brick and crossed directly into the path of a car driven by Lisa M. Giovine, 37, Brick, according to the police report.

The Giovine car struck the passenger side of the Stephan car in the southbound travel portion of Van Zile Road. Two children, ages 2 and 4, in the Giovine vehicle were not injured. Lisa Giovine suffered a leg injury, police said.

The Brick Township Police EMS and MONOC paramedics responded and treated the victims at the scene. Members of the Laurelton Fire Company extricated Mrs. Stephan from the car. She later died at Ocean Medical Center, according to the police report.

The roadway was closed for two hours. Officer Jay Lampiasi and Sgt. Donald Ling of the Traffic Safety Unit are investigating.