Friends and relatives are defending the driver whose pick-up truck sank through the frozen Toms River on Sunday. While Andrew Mayer and passenger Daniel Jolly were not injured, Meyer's two-year-old dog Rolo drowned in the incident—and Meyer's supporters insist that he did try to save the pup.
Toms River police say that a witness saw Mayer doing "donuts" on the frozen river. When police responded, the car headed in the opposite direction and, later, started to sink into the river. NJ.com spoke to Meyer's cousin Donna Jung and her fiancee Helecia Morris:
Rolo was not with Mayer and his friend Daniel Jolly as they did donuts in the truck on the iced-over river off the shore of Pine Beach, Jung and Morris said.
They said that after driving on the ice, Mayer and Jolly walked to shore to play with Rolo, who was with another friend and another dog. In the meantime, Mayer left his empty truck, still on the ice, running, Jung and Morris said.
After a while, they heard police sirens and decided to get the truck off the ice, Jung said. She said that's when Rolo followed Mayer from shore and into the truck.
Almost immediately after getting into the truck, Mayer heard two loud bangs, which he now thinks was the ice, melting from the heat of his vehicle, cracking under the weight of the truck, Jung said.
When the truck fell into the water, Mayer tried to grab his frightened pet.
"Rolo was so scared he was pulling back from him," Morris said.
Jung said her cousin was submerged up to his neck in the freezing water.
Jung said, "Andy jumped on the roof of the truck to get back in as the truck was going under the ice. His friends pulled him out a second time."
Morris added, "He did almost die. He did almost kill himself trying to save his dog," and said that he couldn't call the police because his cellphone was in the car. She said, "He did everything by this dog. His dog was his child. He was his kid. Everywhere Andy went, he was right there next to him."
Jolly's boss told WABC 7 that he was getting "threats from animal lovers," but insists that Jolly is "a really good guy. He's been here for a long time, and he's a good guy. That's why I like him and called to check on him this morning."
The truck is still submerged in Toms River, with Rolo inside. Mayer is reportedly hoping to get the truck and dog out soon. Police have yet to charge him.
Ocean County Freeholder Joseph Vicari thinks that Mayer should pay for the "search and rescue efforts as well as the cleanup of Barnegat Bay." Vicari told the APP, "It jeopardized the lives of all those in law enforcement and fire safety who went out there. He (Mayer) should be held responsible for that...No one should be on the ice."
