Route 537 crash claims life of Allentown High School student

A Millstone Township teen-ager died following a two-car collision June 18 on Route 537, Jackson.

Ian Alspaugh, 17, of Wood-ville Road, was transported to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, following the crash on the county highway. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:25 p.m.

Alspaugh was a member of the junior class at Allentown High School.

Also injured in the crash was Alspaugh’s friend Andrea Gard-ner, 18. She suffered serious head injuries, Jackson police said. She was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, following the Sunday evening accident. Gardner was listed in critical condition on Tuesday morning.

Gardner, of Upper Freehold Township, is a senior at Allen-town High School.

According to police reports, the accident occurred at about 8:20 p.m. on Route 537 near the Interstate 195 overpass. Janice Olschewski, 50, of Seaside Park, was traveling east when a vehicle being driven west by Gardner crossed the center dividing line. Gardner’s vehicle was struck along the passenger side, where Alspaugh was sitting.

Both Gardner and Alspaugh were extricated from their vehicle by personnel from the Millstone Township Volunteer Fire Company.

Olschewski and her passenger, Christopher Chaney, also of Seaside Park, were treated at CentraState Medical Center for what police said were less serious injuries.

Police closed both sides of Route 537 until 11 p.m. Heavy traffic from Six Flags Great Adventure was diverted on to Interstate 195.

Millstone Township Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue said the Mill-stone and Upper Freehold Regional school districts offered counseling services to students affected by Alspaugh’s death. Alspaugh has a sister who attends the Millstone Township Middle School, she said.

"Both schools have put our crisis management teams in gear," Donahue said. "We want to do whatever we can to help."

Jackson police said the accident appeared to have been due in part to slippery road conditions. The accident is being investigated by officers Trevor Crowley, Patrick Mackin, Brad Reider and Vincent Rubio.

Funeral services for Alspaugh will be held at 11 a.m. June 23 at the United Presbyterian Church of Millstone, 211 Millstone Road. A wake will be help from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. June 22 at the C.H.T. Clayton and Son Funeral Home, 958 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell.

Alspaugh was born in Passaic and lived in Carlstadt before moving to Millstone in 1998.

Surviving are his father, John Alspaugh, and his mother and stepfather, Jennie and Charles Mesenbrink, all of Millstone; a sister, Jenessa, at home; his paternal grandmother, Grace Alspaugh of Burke, Va.; his paternal step-grandmother, Margaret Huggins of Glen Burnie, Md.; one uncle, Mark Maiorano of Millstone; one aunt, Donna Cauceglia of Carlstadt; four grand aunts, Eleanor Conforti of Millstone, Lucy Cook of Clifton, Yolanda Cataldo of Nutley, and Louise Riola of Wayne; and several cousins.