Howell woman badly injured in weekend crash

BRICK TOWNSHIP - Two people were injured in a two-car accident at the intersection of HooperAvenue andAtrium Drive on March 22, police said.

Ryan J. Rooney, 18, Howell, suffered head and internal injuries in the crash, which happened at 2:10 p.m. in front of the Red Lion Plaza on Hooper Avenue. Rooney was attempting to make a left turn out of the shopping plaza when her car collided with a Chevy pickup truck driven by Dennis P. Grella, 39, Toms River, police said.

Grella was traveling southbound on Hooper Avenue in the left lane. The impact occurred when Rooney's car crossed in front of Grella's truck, police said.

Rooney was extricated by the Pioneer Hose Fire Company and was taken to the Drum Point Sports Complex by the Brick Township Police EMS Unit No. 1. She was then airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, police said.

Duane O'Hara, 56, a passenger in the Grella truck, sustained a head laceration and was taken to Ocean Medical Center for treatment by the Brick Police EMS Unit No. 2, police said.

The accident is under investigation by Patrolman Jeffrey Lindquist and Sgt. Donald Ling of the Traffic Safety Unit.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call the Traffic Safety Unit at (732) 262- 1140.