MANCHESTER – Four people were injured when a vehicle turned head-on into a dump truck earlier today, according to police.
At approximately 8:29 a.m., Manchester Police responded to the area of Route 530 and Congasia Road in Whiting for reports of a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles and a utility trailer in the roadway.
Once on the scene, police observed an orange 2009 Kia Rio and a white 2016 Chevrolet dump truck in the roadway with extensive damage to their front driver’s sides, as well as a black 2018 utility trailer also in the roadway with extensive damage to its right side.
A preliminary investigation found that the Kia was traveling west on Route 530 when it crossed the center line into the opposite lane, colliding with the Chevrolet, which was towing a trailer. The Chevrolet was overturned in the collision and the trailer was thrown nine feet into the air where it collided with a tree. Once the trailer was unhitched the Chevrolet rolled back onto its upright position.
Police report that the driver of the Kia was 47-year old Frank Crisci Jr., accompanied by passenger 45-year old Awilda Rivera.
Crisci Jr. was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by rescue crews. Crisci Jr. sustained serious injuries to his extremities and was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
[adrotate banner="278"]Rivera was able to exit the vehicle on her own. She was transported by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for the treatment of abdominal injuries.
Both occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident.
The front and side curtain airbags of the Kia were deployed during the crash, added police.
The driver of the Chevrolet was 45-year old Jose Sanchez, accompanied by 56-year old front seat passenger Juan Solorzano, both of Lakewood. Police said that Sanchez and Solorzano were both transported by ambulance to Community Medical Center in Toms River for the treatment of injuries to their extremities.
Both men were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Assisting at the scene were Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Fire Department, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC Paramedics, and the Whiting Volunteer First Aid Squad. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
