TUESDAY 03.03.15
POINT PLEASANT BEACH — For the second time in less than a week, a natural-gas explo- sion disintegrated an Ocean County house, in this case injuring the home’s tenant after it ex- ploded when he turned on the bathroom light.
“It’s very strange, isn’t it?” said Rose Marie Posella, who witnessed the latest blast from her backyard in the predawn hours Monday, seeing flames shooting up into the trees at the house two doors down from her.
“I was sound asleep, and I heard a boom. I thought it was an earthquake,” Posella said. “After I heard the boom, I heard sirens in the distance, and I thought it was something hap- pening in town.”
Ocean County authorities said that what Po- sella heard — and witnessed — was the coun-
SeeBLAST, Page A4
AGAIN? Point Pleasant Beach house destroyed
by area’s second gas explosion in a week; home’s tenant injured in latest blast
Above: The remains of a one-story home leveled by a gas explosion and resulting fire early Monday morning on Cooks Lane in Point Pleasant Beach. TOM SPADER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
See a photo
explosion on your desktop
www.app.com
DAN RADEL, STEPH SOLIS AND DAVID P. WILLIS @DANIELRADELAPP, @STEPHMSOLIS, @DPWILLIS732
TOMS RIVER —The driver of a pickup truck that was allegedly doing “doughnuts” on ice before falling into the Toms River should pay for the search and rescue efforts as well as the cleanup of Barnegat Bay, Free- holder Joseph Vicari said.
The State Police said the driver, Andrew Mayer, 27, and his passenger, Daniel Jolly, 25, escaped the truck before it submerged but didn’t immediately notify au- thorities. Toms River police had received reports of the white pickup doing “doughnuts” on the icy river before the truck’s lights disappeared about 12:15 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle was not located until 10:20 a.m. about 10 feet off Motor Road in Pine Beach.
Fan boats and helicopters hovered across the water as the Coast Guard, State Police and local authorities searched the partially frozen river for hours looking for the missing vehicle before the pair turned them- selves in. That afternoon, divers discovered a dead boxer dog still inside the submerged truck.
The State Police did not plan to charge Jolly, but the agency was still investigating Mayer, State Police Sgt.
See TRUCK, Page A12
Freeholder: Make driver of sunken truck pay  Pickup reportedly doing ‘doughnuts’ on river ice
AMANDA OGLESBY @OGLESBYAPP
BOB BIELK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
 
   
 
 
Seaside Heights is amping up for an exciting season ahead.
Mumford & Sons are hosting a great big beach party this summer, and they've invited some of the biggest names in music to join in on the fun.
The Grammy-winning folk rockers are curating the Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers, a touring festival that will make its first stop June 5 and 6 in Seaside Heights.
Along with Mumford & Sons, bands on the bill are set to include Oklahoma psychedelic rockers The Flaming
Lips, recent “Saturday Night Live” performers Ala- bama Shakes, and California classic-rock revivalists Dawes.
Other acts announced Monday morning include the Vaccines, the Maccabees, the Very Best, Jenny Lewis, Little May, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills and more to be announced.
Tickets are set to go on sale 10 a.m. Friday through the Gentlemen of the Road website. Two-day passes are $179, and limited beach camping is available for $20 per person on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mumford & Sons are going on tour with the Gentle- men of the Road Stopovers in support of their upcoming third album, “Wilder Mind,” set to be released May 4 on Glassnote Records.
According to a news release, each two-day festival is intended to be an “event that combines the intimacy of a community celebration with the excitement of a world-
Seaside Heights will host touring music festival in June ALEX BIESE @ABIESEAPP
See MUSIC, Page A10
Change of scenery
Town hopes family-friendly fest will dim memories of “Jersey Shore,” superstorm Sandy, boardwalk fire. Page A10
Marlboro shooting:
Want to make copies
TECH TUESDAY, A6