MANCHESTER, NJ – A tragic motor vehicle accident occurred in Manchester Township, NJ, on the evening of January 20, 2024. The Manchester Township Police Department reported to the scene at the intersection of New Mexico Drive and Washington Lane in the Whiting section around 9:06 pm, following reports of a vehicle colliding with a tree.
The vehicle, a white 2018 Ford Ecosport, sustained severe front-end damage upon impact with the tree. The investigation indicated that the vehicle, driven by 80-year-old Patricia Ford of Whiting, NJ, sped through a stop sign, left the roadway, collided with a wooden fence, and then struck a tree on the front driver’s side. The collision caused the vehicle to rotate counterclockwise, hitting three additional trees.
Patricia Ford, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered critical injuries. Despite immediate first aid and CPR efforts by officers and EMTs, she was pronounced dead after being transported to Community Medical Center.
Emergency responders, including the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, South Toms River Emergency Medical Services, Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, and Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, assisted at the scene. The crash is currently under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit, with an unknown medical event suspected as the primary cause.