MIDDLETOWN – A township patrolman was struck by a vehicle as he was directing traffic this morning, according to detective Lt. Stephen Dollinger.
Patrolman Thomas Hughes was directing traffic at the intersection of Highway 35 and Pine Street at 11:08 a.m. when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Roland Eckstein, 80, of Pelican Road. The officer was assigned to the intersection when multiple lights on the highway lost power, Dollinger said in a prepared press relase.
Police said Eckstein attempted to pass vehicles on the shoulder of the road when he struck the officer, who was standing in the intersection. Eckstein then left the scene but was located in Red Bank by the Red Bank Police Department. He was charged with assault with a motor vehicle.
Hughes was transported to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank where he received treatment for a hand injury.
The accident is being investigated by Sergeant Douglas Wiatrak of the Traffic and Safety Bureau.
