Truck plows through playground fence after driver blacks out

WALL — A telephone company truck driver blacked out and his vehicle veered off the road, struck a traffic light stanchion, and then plowed through a playground fence, police said.
Police said Richard O'Toole, 53, of Belmar suffered from an unknown medical condition when the crash accident occurred at the intersection of Belmar Boulevard and New Bedford Road around 4:10 p.m. Thursday.

He was driving a full-sized Verizon utility truck, which knocked down the light pole and hit the fence at Airplane Park playground, according to Sgt. Christopher Tango.

O'Toole suffered cuts to his hands, and he was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment and evaluation, police said.

No one else was injured.

The traffic light stanchion was repaired shortly after the accident.

The Wall First Aid Squad, Wall EMS, Glendola Fire Department and MONOC medics also responded to the scene.