MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ—A serious crash involving a motorized bicycle and a Ford Explorer occurred early Sunday morning on Commonwealth Boulevard at the intersection with Northampton Boulevard. Manchester Township Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 12:46 AM.
Upon arrival, officers found a black 2020 Ford Explorer engulfed in flames, with no occupants inside. The vehicle was facing west in the westbound lane of Commonwealth Boulevard, with a damaged motorized bicycle trapped beneath its rear.
The investigation indicated that the bicycle’s operator had run a red light at the intersection, leading to the collision. The rider, identified as 18-year-old William Roberts from Manchester, was ejected from the bike and found approximately 75 feet from the point of impact.
He was transported to Jersey Shore University Hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The driver of the Ford Explorer, 26-year-old Tzvi Kaplovitz of Manchester, did not sustain injuries. The crash led to a partial road closure during the investigation and cleanup.
Emergency response included teams from Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments, Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hatzolah Emergency Medical Services, and Accurate Towing.
The ongoing investigation by Ptl. Brendan Brush from the Traffic Safety Unit suggests that the disregard of the traffic signal by the motorized bike operator was the primary cause of the accident.
