Family Says Parkway Crash Caused by Medical Emergency

LOWER— A Villas man was airlifted to Atlanticare Regional Medical Center’s trauma unit in Atlantic City in critical condition after he was found unconscious in a vehicle that ran off the north bound lane of the Garden State Parkway at mile post 2.3 on Sunday, June 28 at 3:28 p.m.
According to state police Sean Berry, 24, was traveling north bound in a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix in the left hand passing lane. For an unknown reason his vehicle ran off the roadway traveling down the grass median where it glanced off the bull nose of a guide rail. The Pontiac then continued to travel approximately 200 feet where it veered off into the hedge line and then entered the tidal wetlands coming to rest in two feet of water.
Berry was found unconscious and unresponsive by passing motorists who had stopped to render assistance, according to state police.
Middle Township Police units arrived after being requested to assist by state police and also reported the victim to be unconscious. Middle officers requested a medevac to fly.
According to state police Berry was found with no sign of injury. Sean’s father Thomas Berry tells the Herald his son blacked out while he was driving due to a heart problem they were unaware he had. Berry, 24 was admitted to Atlanticare Regional
Medical Center for treatment of aortic aneurysm, according to his father.
One lane of the parkway north bound was closed for two hours while members of the Fatal Accident Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Unit investigated the incident. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, according to state police.
The accident is under investigation by Trooper L. Chiappelli of the Bass River station.
Contact Scheeler at 609-404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com
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