5/16/2008     1:55 AM
Rt. 18 and Tices Lane

Police responded to a three car accident early Friday morning on highway 18, near Tices Lane, that left one woman with critical head injuries. Thirty-nine year old Carmen T. Blasini, of Highland Park, was travelling south on highway 18 in a 2003 Honda when her vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer. The truck was travelling south on highway 18 in the left lane, but swung out wide to the right as the driver attempted to make an illegal left turn through the divider at Tices Lane. The Blasini vehicle was in the center lane when it was struck by the tractor trailer, being driven by 62 year old James Edward Perham of Irvington, Alabama. The tractor trailer was registered to Western Express Inc. out of Nashville, Tennessee. The Blasini vehicle was dragged by the truck into the left lane of highway 18 northbound where both vehicles came to rest. Ms. Blasini’s vehicle was then struck by a 2004 Mitsubishi, being operated by 21 year old Serena L. Whittington of Pisacataway. Ms. Blasini was transported to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. Ms. Whittington was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. In addition, she was charged criminally for assault with a motor vehicle. The driver of the tractor trailer was issued summonses for creating a hazard and improper use of a divided highway. The accident is under investigation by Patrolman Christopher Soke of the East Brunswick Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Safety Section. Anyone with information is asked to call Patrolman Soke at 732-390-6969.