Driver Fatigue May Have Caused Manchester Crash

Photo courtesy Manchester Police

MANCHESTER – A four vehicle accident in the township during the early morning commute sends two people to the hospital with minor injuries and causes major traffic headaches for the end of the week.

Manchester Township Police say the crash happened at around 6:13 a.m. on January 19th at the intersection of Ridgeway Road and Commonwealth Boulevard.

Photo courtesy Manchester Police

Police say 30-year-old Michael Hudak may have fallen asleep behind the wheel before his 2013 Chevrolet E250 cargo van struck the back of a 2016 Toyota Highlander driven by 27-year-old Ashley Haszko. Haszko had been stopped for a red traffic light on Commonwealth and the force caused her car to slam into a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, driven by 46-year-old Monique Marra.

Hudak’s van then skidded hitting a 2005 Cadillac SRX driven by 32-year-old Latoya Nicholson who was stopped in the left turn lane.

All involved were from Toms River Township. Haszko and Marra were sent to Community Medical Center with minor injuries – complaining of head and neck pain.

The road was partially shut down for an hour during the investigation. The probe continues with Manchester Township Police and the Traffic Safety Unit investigating.