February 20, 2008

Brick police find SUV in water off ramp

Margaret F. Bonafide

BRICK — Township police are investigating how a Land Rover, which was supposed to be in a Brick transmission shop, ended up in the water at the end of a Starck's Landing boat ramp near the Beaver Dam bridge.

When authorities were alerted to the vehicle in the water, it was already partially submerged, said Brick Police Capt. John Rein.

Authorities had no idea if there was anyone in the vehicle, and the Brick and Point Pleasant Dive teams responded, as did the State Police Marine division and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to search the water.

Police contacted the vehicle's owner, who is from Brigantine.

The owner said the last he knew the vehicle was at a transmission shop in Brick and he was supposed to pick it up this weekend, Rein said.

Jim Hajeski, captain of the Brick District 1 Dive Team, said that the initial search by the dive teams was to be sure there was no one in the submerged vehicle.

There was a second search of the area after the vehicle was removed.

The dive teams placed a tow hook on the vehicle, so it could be pulled out of the water.

Hajeski said the search was extensive because there is a very strong current in the area where the Beaver Dam Creek meets with the Metedeconk River.

Anyone with information about how the vehicle ended up in the water is asked to call Brick Police at (732) 262-1150.

Divers search for a possible driver of the vehicle that was found in the Beaver Dam Creek behind Starck's Landing off Princenton Avenue in Brick Township Tuesday morning. THOMAS P. COSTELLO / ASBURY PARK PRES