Full Notification

On June 6^th, 2017, at approximately 8:30 AM, the Middle Township Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Highs Beach Road in the Dias Creek Section of the Township.  The preliminary investigation of the scene revealed a Gold Medal Environmental trash truck, driven by Marcus Stotts, age 35 of the Villas,  was travelling east on Highs Beach Road when it ran off the roadway and side swiped a utility pole.  An employee of Gold Medal Environmental, Christopher Rice, age 44 of Pleasantville, was riding on the side step to the rear of the vehicle.  Rice also struck the utility pole.  Middle Township EMS and Atlanticare Medics performed CPR on Rice at the scene and transported him to Cape Regional Medical Center.  Rice was pronounced dead a short time later.  No charges have been filed at this time.  The investigation is still pending.  Patrolman Thomas Flounders and the Middle Township Fatal Crash Team are investigating.