Toms River man dies after vehicle flips into marsh

TOMS RIVER – A 28-year-old man died Saturday after the vehicle he was driving flipped over and landed in the marsh near the intersection of Hooper Avenue and South Shore Drive, officials said.

Paolo Helfers-Lariva of Toms River was trapped under the vehicle when it became submerged in the water early Saturday morning. According to the Toms River police department, officers were called to the scene around 2:25 a.m. and saw two passengers get out from under the vehicle by themselves.

The police department said its officers, Silverton EMTs and Silverton firefighters freed Helfers-Lariva from the water and performed CPR.

Helfers-Lariva was then taken to Community Medical Center where he died.

According to the police department, the crash is still under investigation, but it appears to have been caused by speeding on Hooper Avenue.

Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Corporal Terry Warren is conducting the investigation.

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River NJ man dies after vehicle flips into marsh