Car on fire at night with police lights in background - Stock Photo

Fiery crash kills young driver, ignites forest fire in manchester township — Car on fire at night with police lights in background - Stock Photo

Manchester, NJ — A 22-year-old Manchester man was killed and another driver injured in a violent two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon that sparked a massive fire in a wooded area off Pasadena Road, police confirmed.

The collision occurred on April 28 at approximately 2:10 p.m. near the intersection of Mount Misery Road and Pasadena Road. Responding officers found both vehicles — a red 2023 Kenworth dump truck and a silver 2023 Toyota Highlander — fully engulfed in flames. The Toyota was overturned, and the dump truck had crashed into a wooded area and several trees.

Police identified the driver of the Toyota as Jack P. Lisowsky, 22, of Manchester, who died from his injuries. The dump truck driver, Stacy W. Clay, 51, of Toms River, sustained lower-body pain and was treated at the scene.

Key points:

Crash occurred April 28 at 2:10 p.m. on Pasadena Road in Manchester Township
Jack P. Lisowsky, 22, killed after his Toyota Highlander collided with dump truck
Crash sparked forest and field fires, prompting a multi-agency fire response

Vehicle crossed centerline before fiery crash, police say

The investigation revealed that Lisowsky’s Toyota was traveling southeast on Pasadena Road when it crossed over the centerline and struck the oncoming dump truck. The impact caused the Toyota to overturn and come to rest on its roof on the roadside.

The dump truck veered off the roadway after the impact, striking several trees before coming to a stop in a wooded area. Both vehicles ignited after the crash, and the resulting fire spread rapidly into the surrounding woods and an adjacent grass field.

Massive fire response shuts down roadway for hours

Firefighters from multiple departments responded to contain the fires, including units from Manchester Township, New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, Whiting, Forked River, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and others. Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson and additional emergency agencies also assisted at the scene.

Pasadena Road remained closed for several hours during the response and investigation.

The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Conner Yatauro of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, with failure to maintain lane cited as the primary contributing factor.

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