PRE-CHRISTMAS ACCIDENT KILLED WOMAN

river-rd-accidentThe accident occurred on River Road in front of Acme. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

An Eatontown woman died after being struck by a vehicle on River Road in Fair Haven almost two weeks ago, authorities confirmed.

No charges have been filed against the driver, Mohsen Sarraf, of Rumson, who hit 52-year-old Keri Lee on December 20, Assistant Prosecutor Peter Warshaw said.

On that morning, Warshaw said Lee was crossing to the south side of River Road, in front of the Acme shopping center, when she was hit by Sarraf, who was traveling east on River Road.

Lee was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, he said, for “serious trauma.” Lee succumbed to her injuries on December 22, Warshaw said.

Warshaw said he could not give further details because the prosecutor’s office and Fair Haven police are still investigating.

River Road has been the centerpiece of criticism from locals and merchants in recent months as workers continue to upgrade the major roadway as part of an $886,000 stimulus-funded project to install new sidewalks, benches and lighting.

Neighbors have complained of an increase in accidents on River Road, especially in the area of Acme.

To draw any link to that or any other factor would be speculation at this stage of the investigation, said Warshaw, whom Governor Chris Christie has nominated to succeed Luis Valentin as county prosecutor.