Rt. 35 Accident Sends 4 To Hospital; Driver Charged With DUI

A violent single car accident Route 35 early Saturday resulted in the hospitalization of four people and a DWI charge for the driver, according to Holmdel Police. 

Holmdel Police were called to the accident scene at 2:43 a.m. Saturday morning, where they found a 2004 Pontiac in the middle of the northbound highway lanes, between Laurel and Union Avenues. 

Police investigators said the vehicle had been traveling in the southbound lanes when driver Kenneth Mecenas, 35, of Elmwood Park, IL veered off the road, hit a utility pole and came back into the road.

As it was slowing, the front seat passenger -- Garret Harper, 25, of Chicago, IL -- was ejected and thrown on to the left lane of the highway. The Pontiac came to rest on the right side.

In the back seat was Frank Bardell, 22, of Red Bank and Diane Coutu, 24, or Shorewood, IL. 

Volunteers from Holmdel First Aid, Hazlet First Aid, Holmdel Fire Company #2 rushed to the scene, as well as MONOC paramedics. 

Harper was treated at the scene and immediately transferred to the trauma center at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. 

Bardell had to be extricated from the car by Holmdel Fire Co. #2 and was transported to Jersey Shore. 

Mecenas and Coutu were treated at the scene and transported to Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel. 

Mecenas was charged with DUI and issued several motor vehicle summonses, police said. He was released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance. 

The highway was closed for 5 hours during the crash investigation and for utility pole repairs by JCP&L and Verizon. 

The crash is under investigation by Ptl. Michael Dowens with assistance from Sgt. Philhower of the Traffic Safety Unit.  Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Sgt. Philhower at 732-946-9690. 

The Holmdel Police said it received assistance from the Hazlet Police Dept., the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team.