HARDYSTON POLICE

Two motorcycle crashes on Rt. 23; one passenger dies On July 19 at 4:06 p.m., Hardyston Township Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Route 23 at Silver Grove Road. An investigation conducted by the Hardyston Police, Sussex County CRASH team found that John Bartels Jr., 51, who was operating a motorcycle, was stopped in traffic on Route 23 southbound waiting to turn onto Silver Grove Road when his motorcycle was struck from behind by Richard W. Christie, 81, of Wayne. Bartels and his passenger, Irene Bartels, 51, of Stockholm were flown to Morristown Hospital by helicopter. Irene Bartels died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash and John Bartels was hospitalized with serious injury. Christie was not injured. He was issued a summons for careless driving. At 7:09 p.m., Hardyston Township Police responded to a motorcycle accident on County Route 515. The driver, George Tomov, 54, of Slate Hill, N.Y., failed to negotiate a curve and went off the roadway. He was flown to Morristown Hospital by helicopter for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash. Hardyston Police Department was assisted by the Hardyston First Aid Squad, Hardyston Fire Department, Saint Clare’s Paramedics, the NJSP Northstar Helicopter, Atlantic Healthcare Helicopter, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Sussex County CRASH team.