BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — A two-car collision on March 1 resulted in the death of a 62-year-old woman from Ocean Township.
At 8 a.m. near the intersection of Ocean and Sycamore avenues, Margaret Widmeier, of Staffa Street, was operating a 2002 Saturn when she was struck by a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis operated by Ernesto Alonzo Jr., 20, of Toledo, Ohio.
Witness accounts said that Alonzo was traveling southbound on Ocean Avenue and crossed into the northbound lane, colliding with Widmeier’s vehicle.
Alonzo, a member of the Navy for six months, was traveling to Naval Weapons Station Earle, where he is assigned to the USS Detroit.
According to Alonzo’s account of the incident, he left Toledo the day before, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., and drove through the night, following printed directions to the base, Detective Lt. Bruce Johantgen said.
Johantgen said the accident could have been the result of fatigue, or possibly Alonzo was lost and reading the directions.
Police officials believe Alonzo exited the Garden State Parkway at exit 105 and took Route 36 to Ocean Boulevard. Instead of making a left onto Ocean, he made a right and ended up in Elberon.
Widmeier was treated at the scene of the accident by the Long Branch and Elberon First Aid Squad and paramedics from Monoc. She was pronounced dead at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, at 8:46 a.m.
Alonzo was taken to Monmouth Medical Center, where it was determined that he had suffered no injuries, and was later released, according to Johantgen.
At the direction of the city Police Department, blood was drawn from Alonzo to be tested for alcohol and drugs. Johantgen said they are still awaiting those results.
"At this time it is not believed that alcohol is a factor," Johantgen said. "It was not smelled or found."
The Serious Collision Accident Reconstruction Team (SCART) and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the accident, according to Johantgen.