Manchester township police department
Manchester Township Police Department

One dead, two injured in four-car collision on Route 70 in Manchester Township

Posted by
1 min read
February 26, 2026

Police say Lincoln MKX crossed centerline, colliding head-on with Nissan Rogue Wednesday afternoon.

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A 65-year-old Manchester man was killed and two others were injured Wednesday afternoon in a four-vehicle crash on State Highway 70 near Beckerville Road, according to the Manchester Township Police Department.


Key Points

  • The crash occurred around 3:26 p.m. Wednesday on State Highway 70 near Beckerville Road.
  • Police say a Lincoln MKX crossed the centerline and struck a Nissan Rogue head-on.
  • The Lincoln’s driver, identified as Lisandro V. Morales, 65, died from his injuries.

Officers arrived to find a black 2014 Lincoln MKX with major front-end damage in the eastbound lane, a gray 2016 Nissan Rogue with heavy front damage on the shoulder, a white 2019 Honda Passport damaged on the westbound shoulder, and a fourth vehicle with minor damage unrelated to the main crash.

Investigators determined the Honda and Lincoln were traveling west on Route 70 and the Nissan was heading east. As the Honda slowed to turn onto Beckerville Road, the Lincoln struck the Honda’s rear driver’s side. The Lincoln then crossed the centerline and hit the Nissan Rogue head-on.

The Lincoln rotated roughly 180 degrees before coming to rest in the eastbound lane. The Nissan was pushed backward onto the snow-covered shoulder.

Victims identified

The Lincoln’s driver, Lisandro V. Morales of Manchester, suffered severe internal injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Nissan’s driver, Joseph Rodaligo, 37, of Jackson, sustained serious injuries to his neck and was taken to the same hospital.

The Honda’s driver, 33-year-old Jociane Costa De Souza of Delanco, and her 4-year-old passenger were not injured.

Police said a fourth vehicle sustained front-end damage but was not involved in the initial impact.

The crash remains under investigation by the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Unit.

Tags: Manchester Township, crash, Route 70

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss