Two dead, three hospitalized in Red Bank overdose

Joe Strupp | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Purple flags fly for the 1387 opioid overdose deaths in NJ A sea of purple flags, each one representing a life lost to an opioid overdose in NJ, are on display outside Our Lady Star of the Sea Beach Chapel in Manasquan.

RED BANK - Police are investigating two apparent fatal opioid overdoses at a home on Bank Street, where three other victims were hospitalized Sunday.

Police were called to the house at 85 Bank Street at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday and found five victims and a small amounts of drugs.

Two of the patients, 29 and 35 years of age, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Christopher Swendeman.

Swedeman said EMS units responded from multiple jurisdictions and transported the other three patients to Riverview Medical Center. He said the prosecutor's office is investigating the incident.

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Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and Monmouth County for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of two books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-643-4277. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp