By Eric A. Shore, Founding Attorney, Law Offices of Eric A. Shore
Eric has practiced injury and disability law since 1994, more than 30 years.
Last updated: September 18, 2026
Two people were seriously injured in a head-on crash on Route 539 in Lacey Township on September 13, 2026. Since the crash, prosecutors have filed assault-by-auto charges and additional weapons charges against the driver of a Ford Explorer involved in the collision.
Police also reported seeing open alcohol containers and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes inside the Ford and observing signs of possible impairment.
If the investigation ultimately shows that impairment caused this crash, it is hard not to be angry that two people may be dealing with serious injuries because of something that could have been prevented.
But there are still important facts we do not know. Blood-test results have not been publicly released, the investigation remains open, and all criminal charges are accusations unless proven in court.
I have handled serious injury cases since 1994. When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is not the criminal charges. It is the two people who were badly hurt and the families suddenly trying to figure out what happens next.
Here is what has been publicly reported so far.
What Happened in the Route 539 Crash?
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Lacey Township police responded to Route 539 near mile marker 16.5 at approximately 8:45 p.m. on September 13.
Prosecutors said a Ford Explorer traveling northbound was being driven erratically before entering the southbound lane and colliding head-on with a Toyota RAV4.
The Toyota driver and a passenger in the Ford were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Authorities described both as being in serious but stable condition.
The prosecutor identified the Ford’s driver as Jared Beswick, 27, of Philadelphia.
Why Was the Ford’s Driver Charged With Assault by Auto?
Police reported that the Ford’s driver showed outward signs of possible impairment after the crash.
Officers also reported seeing multiple open alcohol containers and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes inside the vehicle.
Investigators obtained a blood sample under a court-authorized warrant. The Ford’s driver was then charged with two counts of assault by auto.
The publicly released information does not yet include the results of the blood testing.
The presence of alcohol or marijuana inside a vehicle also does not, by itself, establish that a driver was impaired or prove what caused a crash.
The investigation is continuing.
What New Charges Were Filed After the Crash?
The case took another turn several days later.
On September 17, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced that detectives had searched the Ford Explorer under a court-authorized warrant.
According to prosecutors, investigators found:
- Two loaded handguns
- Three high-capacity ammunition magazines
- Hollow-point ammunition
The Ford’s driver was then charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, three counts involving high-capacity ammunition magazines and one count involving hollow-point ammunition.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said the driver remained hospitalized when the additional charges were served.
Prosecutors said he would be taken to the Ocean County Jail after his release from the hospital, pending a detention hearing.
Do the Guns Have Anything to Do With What Caused the Route 539 Crash?
Nothing publicly released so far says that they do.
The weapons discovered inside the Ford resulted in separate criminal charges. Prosecutors have not said that the guns or ammunition caused or contributed to the collision.
The central question in the crash investigation remains why the Ford reportedly entered the southbound lane and struck the Toyota head-on.
What Is the Condition of the People Who Were Injured?
According to the prosecutor’s September 17 update, both injured people remained in serious but stable condition.
One was the driver of the Toyota RAV4. The other was a passenger traveling in the Ford Explorer.
Authorities have not publicly identified either injured person in the prosecutor’s releases.
“Serious but stable” also does not tell us what either person’s recovery will look like. There has been no public announcement about the full extent of their injuries or whether either person will have lasting problems.
Can the Passenger in the Ford Have a Claim Against the Driver?
Potentially, yes.
That question is particularly relevant to this crash because one of the two seriously injured people was riding in the Ford.
A passenger injured because of a driver’s negligence may have a claim even when the passenger knows the driver personally.
Passengers sometimes hesitate because the driver is a friend, relative or someone else they care about. I have seen that many times. The important thing to understand is that an injury claim usually involves available insurance coverage. It is not simply a matter of taking money directly from someone you know.
There can still be difficult issues.
An insurance company may argue that a passenger shares some responsibility if there is evidence the passenger voluntarily rode with someone the passenger knew, or reasonably should have known, was intoxicated.
Nothing publicly reported about this crash tells us what the passenger knew before getting into the vehicle.
That question cannot be answered simply because police later reported finding alcohol or marijuana inside the Ford.
What Evidence Is Being Collected?
This is already a substantial investigation.
Authorities obtained a court-authorized warrant for the driver’s blood.
Detectives later obtained another warrant to search the Ford Explorer.
Other evidence in a serious head-on crash can include photographs, vehicle data, witness statements, surveillance video, body-camera footage and physical evidence from the vehicles.
Some of that information may eventually help explain why the Ford reportedly crossed into the opposing lane.
Our New Jersey Car Accident Digital Evidence Guide explains what electronic evidence may exist after a serious crash and why some of it can disappear quickly.
How Can Someone Get the Lacey Township Crash Report?
The Lacey Township Police Department’s Records Bureau handles police-report requests.
The department’s published non-emergency number is 609-693-6636.
Because this crash is part of an ongoing criminal investigation, not every investigative record may be immediately available.
Our New Jersey Accident Report Guide explains how accident reports are obtained and what information is usually contained in them.
Where Can Victims or Families Get Information About the Criminal Case?
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim/Witness Advocacy Unit provides information and assistance to crime victims, witnesses and their families.
The Ocean County Office of Victim Witness Advocacy can be reached at
732-929-2195.
That may be the best place for an injured person or immediate family member to start when trying to get information about the criminal case.
You do not need an injury lawyer simply to ask the prosecutor’s office what is happening with the criminal case.
What We Still Do Not Know About the Route 539 Crash
Despite the new charges, several major questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly released the blood-test results.
The injured people have not been identified in the prosecutor’s public statements.
There has not been a complete public reconstruction explaining why the Ford allegedly entered the southbound lane.
Prosecutors have also said that the crash investigation remains active and that additional charges may still be filed.
We will update this page if authorities release significant new information about the investigation, the blood-test results, the criminal case or the condition of the two people who were seriously injured.
For the People Affected by This Crash
I hope both people injured in this crash recover fully. Their families are probably dealing with a lot more right now than what appears in the news reports.
After more than 30 years representing injured and disabled people, I know the headline is usually only the beginning. The families are the ones dealing with the hospital, missed work, uncertainty and questions about what happens next.
If you were hurt in a New Jersey crash like this one and do not know what to do next, call the Law Offices of Eric A. Shore at 1-800-CANT-WORK. Sometimes people call us just to figure out what insurance applies or whether they even have a case. That is fine. We can help sort it out.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. All criminal charges discussed above are accusations. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
