MANCHESTER – Four people were sent to area hospitals after a crash ended up with two vehicles on a front lawn.
The incident happened at around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 near the intersection of Commonwealth Boulevard and Northampton Boulevard in the Pine Lake Park section of the township.
Officers said they arrived to find a black, 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe and a blue, 2012 Nissan Armada on the front lawn of a Commonwealth Boulevard home.
After investigation, it was determined that the Hyundai was traveling north on Northampton when the driver did not stop at the stop sign and red flashing traffic signal at Commonwealth. As it went through the intersection, it was struck by the Nissan, which was heading west on Commonwealth. The collision caused both vehicles to spin and end up on the front lawn.
One passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle, police said. Loretta Sueiro, 92, of Manchester, was thrown to the floor of the Hyundai because she was not wearing a seat belt. She became trapped on the floor of the vehicle. She was extricated by firefighters from Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune via helicopter. The most recent update has her listed in the Intensive Care Unit with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver in that car was Barbara Duffield, 66, of Manchester. She received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River.
The driver of the Nissan was Michael Moody, 42, of Toms River. He also sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center. A 5-year-old female in his back seat was also transported to Community Medical Center for a precautionary evaluation. She was discharged shortly thereafter.
The intersection was closed and traffic was diverted for several hours following the crash. Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as medical personnel from Holiday City EMS, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC, Toms River EMS, and Hackensack Air # 2. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but at this point, driver error appears to be a contributing factor. This crash is being investigated by Ptl. Jesse Hoydis of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
