Brick man airlifted, others injured in manchester crash

Manchester Twp NJ – On Monday, August 6, 2018, at approximately 3:48 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 70 near mile marker 34.5, in the Whiting section of the Township, to investigate a serious motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles. Initial reports indicated that there were multiple injuries and that at least one person was trapped in a vehicle.

Upon arrival, officers observed a black, 2001, Mercedes CK5 on its passenger side off of the westbound side of the roadway against several trees. The Mercedes was only occupied by one person, and that individual was pinned inside and suspended by the vehicle’s seatbelt. Also at the scene, officers located a blue, 2010, Mazda 3 with extensive front end and driver’s side damage facing east in the westbound shoulder.

The initial investigation revealed that the Mercedes was traveling eastbound on Route 70 when it crossed the center line and collided with the Mazda which was traveling westbound. The impact caused the Mercedes to spin and eventually roll onto its passenger side. Upon doing so, it slid off the roadway and collided with several trees. The Mazda also spun and slid a substantial distance before coming to rest in the westbound shoulder.

The driver of the Mercedes, 28-year-old David Arce of Brick, was extricated by first responders and airlifted by paramedics to Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton for treatment of serious leg and internal injuries. His current condition is not known. The driver of the Mazda, 31-year-old, Pablo Nunez of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst sustained injuries to his arm while his front seat passenger, 20-year-old, Leighanne Brown of Berlin sustained a head injury. Both were both transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Burlington by ambulance. The back seat passenger, 19-year-old, Rachel Goretskie of Browns Mills was uninjured and refused any medical treatment at the scene. The roadway was closed for several hours while emergency workers tended to the injured, and while officers conducted the investigation.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Whiting and Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Departments as well as members of the Joint Base Fire Department. Also assisting were EMTs from Quality Medical Transport and paramedics from both MONOC and Virtua. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

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.