HOWELL – Police have still not been able to determine the cause of a Sept. 8 motor vehicle accident that took the life of a Farmingdale woman and critically injured her husband.
Jacques Ferland, 77, remained in a medically induced coma on Sept. 20 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, said Howell police Sgt. Joseph Markulic.
“At this time we have no clue what happened,” he said.
Authorities said Ferland sustained multiple facial injuries and a ruptured bladder after his Chevrolet pickup truck struck a concrete barrier on Route 9 south.
His wife, Denise Ferland, 78, died at Jersey Shore University Medical Center shortly after the 11:54 a.m. accident, police said.
Markulic said because of Ferland’s medical condition, traffic safety officers have been unable to question him to ask why he exited the Cherry Tree Plaza to make a right turn onto the highway and struck the concrete barrier head-on.
Police who responded to the crash initially did not believe the couple’s injuries were life-threatening, Markulic said.
The couple had just left the Cherry Tree Plaza after Mrs. Ferland had finished a dental appointment, he said.
Both Ferland and his wife had their eyes open after the accident. Mrs. Ferland appeared to be in shock. Ferland was unable to answer questions, Markulic said.
“There was no indication until they got to the hospital that they were badly injured,” he said.
Ferland and his wife were wearing seat belts, and there were no skid marks on the highway, Markulic said.
So far, no witnesses have come forward.
The crash is under investigation by Patrolman Scott Brooks and Patrolman Riaz Motani of the Howell Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
The Howell Police Department’s EMS, the Farmingdale-Howell First Aid Squad and MONOC paramedics assisted at the scene.
Any witnesses to the accident are asked to call 732-938-4575, ext. 2185.

