MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A man wanted after fleeing the scene of a fiery car crash in Manchester on Saturday has been caught by police. Manchester police were notified about a suspicious person knocking on doors asking homeowners to call a taxi cab. Police narrowed down a perimeter and used a state police helicopter as they searched for Roy Deronde Jr., of Kingston, Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, at 5:56 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of State Highway 70 and Colonial Drive to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving three motor vehicles in the intersection. Upon arrival, officers observed a silver, 2008 Nissan Altima fully engulfed in flames facing west on the eastbound shoulder of State Highway 70. Officers also found a red, 2018 Mercedes Benz GLC facing west in the eastbound lane of State Highway 70 and a white, 2019 Jeep Cherokee facing north in the intersection of State Highway 70 and Colonial Drive.
The investigation revealed that the Nissan Altima was traveling westbound on State Highway 70 at a high rate of speed on the westbound shoulder of State Highway 70 when the driver ran the red light. The Nissan Altima entered into the intersection impacting the white Jeep Cherokee, which was traveling south on Colonial Drive. After impacting the White Jeep Cherokee, the Nissan Altima crossed over the centerline and struck the Mercedes Benz which was in the eastbound travel lane of State Highway 70. After striking the Mercedes Benz the Nissan Altima continued to travel west on State Highway 70 in the eastbound travel before impacting a utility pole and becoming fully engulfed in flames.
On Sunday, at 5:18 pm, Manchester Police Department received a call from Manchester EMS, who stated that they saw a male fitting the description of the suspect, Roy Deronde. They reported he was in the area near their headquarters, and further observed him crossover Colonial Dr. and jump the fence into Leisure Village West community. A short time later Manchester Police Dispatch received additional phone calls from several residents within the Leisure Village West Community reporting that a male fitting Deronde’s description was knocking on their doors and asking them to call a taxi. Manchester Police arrived on scene and determined that Deronde appeared to be confined to an area between Huntington Drive, State Highway #37 West, Colonial Drive, and Buckingham Drive.