Suspected intoxicated driver takes down utility pole, strikes home at jackson-manchester border

Suspected intoxicated driver takes down utility pole, strikes home at Jackson-Manchester border

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A suspected drunken driver crashed into a utility pole and took down a mailbox before coming to rest after hitting a home on the Manchester and Jackson border at 9:45 am on Wednesday.

According to the Manchester Township Police Department, officers responded to the area of County Road 571, near the border of Jackson Township, to investigate the single motor vehicle crash involving a mailbox, utility pole, and residence.

“Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a 2006 Lincoln Town Car facing northeast on the front yard of a residence on County Road 571,” Manchester Police Department spokesperson Vincent Manco said.
“An eyewitness to the incident reported seeing the Lincoln traveling eastbound on County Road 571, swerving in and out of the lane of travel, moments before the crash occurred.”

Suspected intoxicated driver takes down utility pole, strikes home at jackson-manchester border
Photo: suspected intoxicated driver takes down utility pole, strikes home at jackson-manchester border

An investigation into the crashed determined that the Lincoln swerved off the roadway onto the eastbound shoulder and impacted a mailbox and a utility pole.  After impacting the utility pole, the Lincoln traveled across County Route 571, left roadway and came to final rest after striking the residence.  The damage at the scene consisted of a broken mailbox, a severed utility pole which came to rest across CR 571, and damage to the residence.

Scott Skweres, 48, of Toms River, the driver of the vehicle, was injured in the crash and refused medical attention after being evaluated by EMS.

Manco said Skweres was charged with suspicion of driving while intoxicated and released.

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.