MANCHESTER – Two people were left injured from a three-car crash that occurred Thursday evening in Manchester Township, police said.
Around 6:16 p.m., officers responded to a collision involving a tractor-trailer at the intersection of State Highway Route 70 and County Route 539.
According to police, a 2020 Toyota Sienna was traveling north on County Route 539 and entered the intersection of State Highway Route 70 through a red traffic signal. Simultaneously, a blue 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, which had a green traffic signal, was making a right turn from Route 70 westbound onto County Route 539 northbound.
Subsequently, the Toyota collided with the driver’s side of the tractor-trailer, causing the Toyota to be pushed into the southbound turning lane on County Route 539. It then collided with a stationary silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra, impacting its front end, police said,
The driver of the Hyundai Elantra, 45-year-old Lisa Kopcho from Manchester, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported via the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services Ambulance to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment and evaluation. Currently, she is listed in stable condition, police said
The driver of the Toyota, 27-year-old Hanna Ruark, was unharmed in the crash. The operator of the tractor-trailer, 47-year-old Denell Sanders from Bear, Delaware, reported minor right knee pain but did not require hospital transport, police said. A passenger of the tractor-trailer, 47-year-old Khalilah Hickman, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was brought to Community Medical Center by South Toms River EMS. She is presently listed in stable condition, police said.
As a result of the crash, Route 70 and County Route 539 experienced partial closures, leading to traffic delays while officers conducted their investigation.
At this time investigation into the crash is ongoing. However, police believe the contributing factor of the crash is failure to observe a traffic signal.
Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, South Toms River EMS, and members of the Whiting Fire Department.
This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Brendan Brush of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
