SOMERS POINT– One man is dead and two others, including a pedestrian, are in serious condition after a single-car crash early this morning outside Gregory’s Bar in Somers Point, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel stated.
At 12:58 a.m. this morning a vehicle driven by Antonio Vargas, 21, of Somers Point, was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed south on Shore Road, when it crashed his vehicle, which came to a rest inside the bar. Vargas was flown to Harrah’s Regional Trauma Center at AtlantiCare, for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Vargas’ passenger, Kevin Botta, 33, of Somers Point, was pronounced dead at the scene. Atlantic County Medical Examiner Dr. Hydow Park performed an autopsy on Botta and determined that the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries including extensive head and facial fractures.
A pedestrian, Joseph Higbee, 26, of Northfield, who was standing outside of the bar, was struck by a dislodged fire hydrant. He was flown to Atlantic City Medical Center, City Campus, for treatment of life-threatening injuries. As of 3 p.m., Higbee was listed in serious condition and Vargas was listed in critical condition at The Harrah’s Regional Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
The car also struck a utility pole causing a major power outage.
Atlantic City Electric’s outage map reported 2,143 customers without power in Somers Point, Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township. Power was restored at around 4:30 a.m.The investigation is pending. No summonses have been issued as of this time.
The Somers Point Police Department responded to the scene with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and Atlantic County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Also responding were the Somers Point Fire Department, Hammonton Rescue Squad and AtlantiCare paramedics.
Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township fire departments provided mutual aid with the Ocean City Police Department and New Jersey State Police.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collision Unit at 609-909-7666 or the Somers Point Police Department at 609-927-6161
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
Goshen – It is beyond time to have an updated immigration policy. The issue has been kicked down the el calle for way to long. Eric Cantor and the republican congress walked out of the Dreamer deal with Obama…
