MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – Two victims have been airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center after their vehicle overturned in Manchester Township police here said.
According to police, on Tuesday, at approximately 12:32 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to State Highway 70 in the area of Mile Maker 43 in the Whiting Section of town to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving an overturned vehicle into the woods. Upon arrival, officers observed a red, 2013, Kia soul on its driver side in the woods on the eastbound side of the roadway.
“The investigation revealed that the Kia Soul was traveling west on State Highway 70, when it began to drift into the eastbound lane of travel. The vehicle crossed the centerline of the roadway and entered into the eastbound lane, and then onto the dirt shoulder of the roadway,” the Manchester Police Department said in a statement. “The vehicle continued to travel in the dirt shoulder prior to striking a utility pole and rolling over. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 79-year-old, Russell Van Pelt, suffered multiple injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ by medevac helicopter where he was listed in stable condition.”
The front seat passenger identified as, 74-year-old, Judith Van Pelt, also suffered multiple injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ by medevac helicopter where she was listed in stable condition. The roadway was closed for a period of time during the rescue and cleanup.
Assisting at the scene were EMTs and Firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, as well as, members of the Manchester and Whiting Volunteer Fire Departments, the Joint Base Fire Department, Lakehurst Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and representatives from Jersey Central Power and Light and Verizon.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but at this point, failure to maintain lane is the contributing cause of the motor vehicle accident. This crash is being investigated by Lieutenant Antonio Ellis, Patrolman Conner Yatauro and Patrolman Jesse Hoydis of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety section.