Crash claims life of O.B. boy

Crash claims life of O.B. boy

By natalie m. vena

Staff Writer

COLTS NECK — A 7-year-old Old Bridge boy, remembered by many as a smiling boy with the face of an angel, died in a Sept. 16 car accident in Colts Neck at the intersection of Route 34 and Artisan Way.

According to police reports, Robert Meli, 39, was traveling in an Oldsmobile minivan northbound on Route 34 in Colts Neck at around 2:15 p.m. on Sept. 16 with his son, Michael Joseph, 7.

Michael was a passenger in the front seat of the minivan when it collided with the rear of a Jeep Cherokee driven by Joseph Colabelli, 39, of Colts Neck.

Colabelli was also traveling northbound on Route 34 ahead of Meli. Colabelli stopped at the intersection of Route 34 and Artisan Way, waiting to make a left turn onto Artisan, police said

That is when, police say, Meli struck Colabelli’s vehicle from behind.

According to police, none of the three people involved in the collision, including the driver of the Jeep, were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

When officers arrived at the scene, Michael was conscious and speaking but lost consciousness shortly thereafter, according to police.

Colts Neck First Aid arrived at the scene and transported the boy to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune where he underwent emergency surgery for internal injuries and later died, according to police.

Robert Meli was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and was released. Colabelli refused treatment at the scene of the accident, according to police.

The accident is still under investigation, noted Sgt. Maxwell. Maxwell did state that summonses most likely will be issued at a future date to both drivers for violating the seat-belt law.

Patrolman Paul Santucci, the first officer to arrive at the scene of the collision, said both vehicles were badly damaged, and the speed of the collision may be hard to determine because of a lack of tire marks on the road.

Santucci said that the older minivan did not have airbags.

Doug Macmillan, principal at St. Ambrose School in Old Bridge, where Michael was a second-grader, said that the accident "was a tragic loss."

Macmillan provided counseling to St. Ambrose students this week and said he will provide additional counseling in the future if needed.

The Rev. Charles Kelly, pastor at St. Ambrose, spoke with Michael’s classmates about the tragedy.

"I was surprised that the second-graders were open and honest talking about death and how it affected themselves and their families," said Kelly, adding that the students were saddened by the death of their classmate.

Teachers and aides at St. Ambrose approached Kelly to say they remembered Michael as a cute little boy who was always smiling.

A neighbor of the Meli family, Donna Cotugno, stated in a telephone interview that the Melis are great parents. "They always put the needs of their children first," she said.

Michael was a member of the Sayrewoods South Little League. He also played roller hockey for the Patriots in Aberdeen and was a member of the St. Ambrose basketball team.

Michael is survived by his parents, Robert and Denise Marie, and two brothers, Anthony and Robert.