Jackson woman killed in accident

BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - A cell phone call may have been a contributing factor in the motor vehicle death of a township woman.

The Aug. 9 crash that claimed the life of Susan Ivanitski, 50, of Jackson, left two grandchildren who were with her in her vehicle critically injured. According to a hospital spokesman, both children remained in critical condition on the morning of Aug. 15.

According to information provided by police, Susan Ivanitski was traveling west on East Commodore Boulevard (Route 526) on Aug. 9 at 3:28 p.m. driving a 2005 Infinity FX3. Her granddaughter, Mackenzie White, 6, and her grandson, Michael White, 4, were seated in the rear of the vehicle, both in child restraint seats.

Police Officer Patrick Mackin said in a press release that Ivanitski stopped for a red light at the intersection of Cedar Swamp Road (Route 527) and East Commodore Boulevard, where she was the first vehicle in line. Mackin reported that the driver of the vehicle behind Ivanitski later told police he had observed Ivanitski using a hand-held cellular telephone. With the telephone up to her ear, Ivanitski then drove through the red signal and into the intersection, according to the press release.

As Ivanitski's vehicle entered the intersection, William D. Calhoun, 28, of Whitesburg, Ga., who was operating a 2001 International tractor-trailer in a northbound direction on Cedar Swamp Road, observed Ivanitski enter the intersection just as he was about to. Police said Calhoun's signal was green, as confirmed by an unidentified driver behind him.

Police said Calhoun also observed that Ivanitski was on a cell phone.

Police said the truck driver applied his brakes in an attempt to stop his vehicle, but Ivanitski's car was too close to avoid an impact. The truck struck the Infinity on the driver's side at the doors.

Both vehicles then crossed into the southbound lanes of Cedar Swamp Road and into the path of a car being driven by Barbara J. Blecher, 73, of Toms River. Blecher's vehicle then struck the passenger side of Ivanitski's car.

Police said Blecher also confirmed that the traffic light was green for vehicles on Cedar Swamp Road at the time of the accident.

The crash brought multiple emergency response units to the scene.

Police said Ivanitski, who was wearing a seat belt, was extricated from her vehicle and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. She was pronounced dead after she arrived at the hospital.

Her granddaughter, Mackenzie, who was sitting behind Ivanitski, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by helicopter. Police said she suffered a head injury.

Ivanitski's grandson, Michael, who was seated in the center rear of the vehicle, was transported by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Police said he suffered a head injury.

Barbara Blecher, who complained of a pain in her chest, was transported to Ocean Medical Center, Brick Township, for treatment. Her husband, Sam Blecher, 77, who was a passenger in the front seat, was transported to the hospital in Brick for treatment of a chest injury. Police said the Blechers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Calhoun, who was also wearing a seat belt, was not injured in the accident.

Exit 21 on I-195 and Cedar Swamp Road were closed to all traffic from the time of the accident until 9:30 p.m. Commodore Boulevard was also closed up to the I-195 interchange. Traffic on Cedar Swamp Road was diverted onto I-195 at exit 22, Jackson Mills Road.

In addition to Jackson police, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Unit and the New Jersey State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit responded to the scene. Also responding were MONOC paramedics and Basic Life Support Unit, the Jackson Mills Fire Company, the Jackson No. 1 Fire Company and the New Jersey Department of Transportation Emergency Response Team.

The crash remains under investigation by the Jackson Police Department Traffic Safety Unit.