May 17, 2020
PLAINSBORO, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet and Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department said today that a pedestrian was killed yesterday afternoon in the Township after being struck by a vehicle.
The deceased pedestrian was identified as Donna Lawrence, 60, of Plainsboro. She was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and was later pronounced dead due to the injuries she sustained in the crash.
The initial investigation by Patrolman Rich Wolak of the Plainsboro Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that on May 16, 2020, at approximately 12:12 pm the woman was struck by a Buick Sedan while she was in the crosswalk on Plainsboro Road at Morris Davidson Park.
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Patrolman Wolak of the Plainsboro Department at (609) 799-2333 or Detective Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4328.
May 17, 2020
BRICK, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a suspicious death in Brick Township. At approximately 12:00 p.m. today, Brick Township Police were summoned to 28 Creek Road. Upon arrival, Brick Township Police Officers discovered a deceased female. This is an active and ongoing investigation. There is no immediate danger to the public at this time.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
May 17, 2020
Photos, video and story by: Dennis Symons, Jr.
Photos were taken Sunday Morning, May 17, 2020
BELMAR, NJ (MONMOUTH)—After seeing several photos posted online yesterday of massive crowding at the Jersey Shore it seemed that people were all over the place violating Governor Murphy’s “Social Distancing” rules. To an untrained eye it looked as people were on top of each other in large massive crowds. One of the locations was Belmar, New Jersey where a “local” told us that a record of over 3,000 beach badges were sold in a single day. The local also told us that the line was long but most of the day people were obeying social distancing rules. When asked about the photos posted on social media and used in regular news media, they said the photos were incredible.
Looks terrible people are not social distancing? If you think that look below and see how lenses can distort what is actually happening especially if photos are taken from few angles. Not saying that social distancing violations did not happen but some photos posted online seem very suspicious of using a “compression” technique.
Today people were lined up again this morning to purchase beach badges in Belmar. The line was not as long as yesterday but it was a good opportunity to investigate social distancing. Were photographs shared in social media and news media sensationalized, borderline “fake news” using certain photography techniques or were people observing the rules?
For this experiment we will use a Canon 5D Mark IV that has a full frame sensor with lenses in range from 24mm to 600mm in length. I will take photos from an elevated position looking down boardwalk using a wide angle 24mm to a 600mm telephoto lens.
From the street and beach take another set of photos to show the spacing between people on the boardwalk. A “normal” lens of what a typical eye sees, with a full framed sensor is between 35mm and 70mm. A variety of focal lengths will be provided to show lens compression.
24mm slightly wider than a “normal” lens.
70mm is slightly more than a “normal” lens.
135mm and 150mm the average telephoto lens.
At 200mm you can start to see higher effects of using the longer focal length lenses.
A 600mm lens makes people appear standing closer together.
Below photographs showing proper social distancing as viewed from the street and beach:
From side view from street and beach showing distancing between people waiting on the boardwalk for beach badges. Same crowd as viewed from the side and then with a 600mm lens pointed straight down the boardwalk. The longer focal length lenses can distort distances especially when trying to judge social distancing rules.
Post by Belmar, NJ showing social distancing Saturday from a drone:
This was Saturday’s line from the street, shows crowd and long line but as shown from the drone photos it appears most people are practicing social distancing. This photo was taken at 1: 30 pm using a cell phone.
How the NY Post played the story:
https://nypost.com/cover/covers-for-sunday-may-17-2020/
May 17, 2020
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–On May 16, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Trenton police units were detailed to the first block of Power Street on a reported shooting with multiple people struck. Arriving units located three shooting victims in front of a residence on Daymond Street. A 38-year-old Trenton man, later identified as Robert Smith, was struck in the head. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Additionally, a 19-year-old Hamilton man was struck in the buttocks and a 44-year-old Trenton man was struck in the back. Both victims remain hospitalized. The investigation revealed there was a large gathering of approximately 30-40 people in front of the Daymond Street residence when the area was approached by the suspect or suspects. More than a dozen shell casings were located and two vehicles were also struck. No arrests have been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
May 17, 2020
Photos by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News
EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A van crashed into the Family Dollar at the intersection of Princeton and Olden Avenues around 9:30 am today. Firefighters from Ewing Township and Ewing Township EMS responded for a reported person trapped in the van. One person was transported to the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. The Ewing Township Building Inspector was en route to check the structure.
No other information is available at this time. If we receive further information the story will be updated.
Photos by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News
May 17, 2020
BELMAR, NJ (MONMOUTH)– Yesterday Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 146 to reopen charter boat fishing and watercraft rentals. You can view details in yesterday’s story here.
This morning at 7:30 am, one and a half hours after the covid-19 chartered fishing ban was lifted the Golden Eagle heads out of the Shark River Inlet fishing for striped bass and blues. It appears that most everyone had masks on and well spaced on the boat.
