On Friday, October 10, 2025, at approximately 3:50 p.m., members of the Manchester Township Police responded to the Silverwoods Community for a report of a vehicle that struck a residence. Upon arrival, officers located a 2011 Toyota Highlander with extensive front-end damage, which caused significant damage to the residence. The driver and passenger of the Toyota had to be extricated from the vehicle by first responders at the scene.
The investigation revealed that the driver of the Toyota was attempting to park in a parking space and accidentally accelerated into a tree and then into the residence. Inside the residence, a female was lying on her couch and was thrown across her living room area as a result of the impact. Emergency responders at the scene were able to rescue the woman inside the affected residence.
The driver of the Toyota, 63-year-old Steven Makowsky, and passenger, 67-year-old Joan Thompson, both of Manchester, NJ, reported no injuries at the time of the crash. The female within the affected residence, 66-year-old Rosemarie Sherman, was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ, for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Assisting at the scene were Emergency Medical Technicians and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester Township Building Inspector, and Priced Rite Towing.
The investigation into this crash is ongoing; however, improper parking and pedal misapplication appear to be the primary contributing factors. The crash is being investigated by Ptl. Brendan Brush of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.