MANCHESTER — Three people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash at a busy Manchester Township intersection, sending one driver to the hospital by helicopter, police said.
Officers were called to the intersection of State Highway 70 and County Route 571 at about 3:29 p.m. December 16 for a reported crash involving three vehicles.
Police found a white 2017 Nissan Titan with heavy damage on the rear passenger side stopped in the intersection, along with a black 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE that had sustained disabling front-end damage. A third vehicle, a gray 2023 Kia Sportage, was located nearby in the northbound center lane of Route 571.
According to the initial investigation, the Nissan was traveling west on Route 70 and attempting to turn left onto Route 571 southbound when it was struck in the intersection by the eastbound Mercedes. The impact caused a floor jack to be ejected from the bed of the Nissan, striking the underside of the Kia.
The Nissan driver, Cheyanne Nastasi, 25, of Beachwood, was taken to Community Medical Center with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening, police said. The Mercedes driver, Gissela Knoll, 37, of Toms River, was flown by medevac helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening and was listed in stable condition. The Kia driver, Felix Carter, 36, of Jackson, was not injured.
The intersection was closed for about two hours while police investigated and crews cleared the scene.
Manchester Township police were assisted by volunteer fire departments from Manchester, Ridgeway and Lakehurst, as well as Manchester Township Career Fire, Manchester Emergency Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics and Priced Rite Towing.
The crash remains under investigation, though police said failure to yield the right of way appears to be the primary contributing factor. The investigation is being handled by Patrolmen Michael O’Hara and Jesse Hoydis of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
The intersection has seen several accidents in the last few months.
