MANCHESTER – A 19-year-old man from Whiting suffered serious injuries after crashing into a deer in the roadway before losing control of his car and slamming into a tree, police said.
Manchester Township Police Captain Vincent Manco confirmed that they were called to the scene on Saturday night near the area of Beckerville Road and Central Avenue.
Police said when officers arrived, the found a white 2020 Subaru WRX with extensive damage and Isaiah Shabazz still strapped in his seatbelt. From the initial on-scene investigation, police believe Shabazz struck the deer and lost control of the car as it entered the westbound lane, running off the road, hitting a mailbox, landscape rocks and then the large tree.
Shabazz was extricated from the car by the fire department and was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for head trauma and internal injuries. He is listed in critical but stable condition.
The road was closed during the probe and cleanup.
Police said members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department, Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services and MONOC paramedics all assisted at the scene.
The crash is being investigated by Sergeant Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety section.
