MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at approximately 8:54 am, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to 1001 State Highway 70, which is the Shop Rite shopping plaza, to investigate a crash involving a vehicle impacting a pedestrian in the parking lot.
Upon arrival, officers observed a silver 2020 Chevrolet Trax partially out of a parking space and an elderly female lying on the ground in the middle of the parking lot aisle. The investigation revealed that the Chevrolet was pulling forward, out of the parking space and turning towards the left. As the vehicle was pulling forward, the pedestrian was walking towards the Shop Rite and into the Chevrolet’s path of travel. At this point, the front driver’s side of the vehicle impacted the pedestrian. The driver of the Chevrolet, 82-year-old, Peter Stasinski, and his 80-year-old front seat passenger, Virginia Stasinski, both of Whiting, were uninjured as a result of the crash.
The pedestrian, 87-year-old, Marie Ryerson, of Whiting, sustained injures concentrated on the right side of her body, as well as, possible serious internal injuries. Mrs. Ryerson was transported by the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Service via ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Hospital for the injuries sustained in the crash. She is currently listed in critical but stable condition.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but at this point, driver error appears to be the primary contributing factor. Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services. The crash is being investigated by Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.