Monroe Twp. man killed
in Englishtown crash

By Mark Rosman

ENGLISHTOWN — An 18-year-old male died in a two-vehicle crash on Wood Avenue (Route 522) on the night of Aug. 25.

Englishtown police Sgt. Richard Settele said the driver of one of the vehicles, Matthew Bowdenhodge, 18, of Monroe Township, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident in front of a home at 15 Wood Ave. The accident occurred at 9:16 p.m.

Two females who were passengers in Bowdenhodge’s 2004 Toyota Camry were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, and admitted. The females are ages 19 and 22; one was transported by air and one was transported by ground, Settele said.

Settle said a preliminary investigation revealed that Bowdenhodge, who was heading west (toward Monroe Township) on Wood Avenue, attempted to pass a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck, which was also heading west.

At the moment Bowdenhodge made his attempt to pass the pickup truck, the driver of the pickup truck was attempting to make a left turn off of Wood Avenue and the two vehicles made what Settle described as minor contact.

At the point of contact, Bowdenhodge lost control of his car and struck a telephone pole and a cement mailbox structure (concrete surrounding the mailbox pole) in front of 15 Wood Ave., according to Settele.

The driver of the pickup truck, Robyn Smart, 20, of Colts Neck, a male, was not injured in the accident.