MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – On January 5, 2024, at approximately 1:03 PM, Manchester Township Police responded to a report of a vehicle crashing into the ShopRite located at 1001 Route 70. Officers found a grey 2017 Toyota Camry, driven by 89-year-old Patricia Janelli of Manchester, NJ, with front-end damage against the building.
The car’s occupant, Maxine Lilly of Somerset, NJ, along with Ms. Janelli, sustained minor injuries and were transported to Community Medical Center. Several ShopRite patrons also received treatment and were taken to local hospitals.
The investigation revealed that Ms. Janelli was initially reversing from a parking spot, then switched to drive and accelerated, striking a sign support and a landscaped median. The vehicle continued towards the store, hitting a curb and the front of the building, causing extensive damage.
Manchester Township Division of Emergency Medical Services, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, and the Manchester Township Building Inspector assisted at the scene. Patrolman Conner Yatauro of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit is leading the ongoing investigation, which currently suggests driver error as the primary cause.