Ice, snow hamper truck recovery in Toms River

PINE BEACH – Divers found the body of a dog Sunday inside a 1989 Mazda white pickup truck that fell through the ice into the Toms River, according to the State Police.

The dog — a boxer — was discovered while divers searched the submerged vehicle, which floated about 100 feet from shore by Motor Road in Pine Beach, State Police Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said.

State and local authorities spent hours trying to recover the truck from the icy river and used helicopters and fan boats in the search.

Williams said Sunday night the two occupants of the vehicle, Andrew Mayer, 27, of Toms River, the driver, and Daniel Jolly, 25, of Toms River, turned themselves into the Toms River Police Department and were interviewed. Williams said no charges have been filed as of yet and the investigation is still on-going.

Toms River police said the truck drove onto the ice about 12:15 a.m. by Gladney Avenue and was seen doing "doughnuts." Its headlights and brake lights headed south and west before the lights disappeared, Toms River police Officer Ralph Stocco said in a news release. Search teams were activated after authorities feared the truck fell into the river.

Authorities discovered the truck at 10:20 a.m., according to Toms River police.

Williams said that the divers recovered no human bodies from the submerged vehicle, and that two men with knowledge about the truck spoke with the State Police and Toms River police early Sunday afternoon.

While emergency responders in a fan boat examined the submerged truck, two dozen spectators gathered in the falling snow along the boardwalk in Pine Beach.

"In the '70s, cars used to go across all the time," said Chad Krean, 43, of Pine Beach, who stood on a dock watching the recovery effort. "You were a big shot if you made it to Seaside."

Stocco said driving across the river was somewhat common in the 1970s and early '80s.

Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@app.com