On Sunday, June 5, 2022, at approximately 7:37 p.m., members of the Manchester Township Police Department responded to County Route 547 just north of the Joint Base Lakehurst entrance, for a one vehicle crash.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2020 Kia Soul in the roadway with extensive damage. There were also several trees found lying in the roadway. Life saving measures were initiated and the male was subsequently transported to Community Medical Center by Manchester Emergency Medical Services. Unfortunately, the driver did not survive the crash and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Notification of next of kin is still pending at the time of this release.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling north on County Route 547, when the vehicle began to drift on to the dirt shoulder before striking several trees. The impact with the trees caused severe damage to the vehicle, with multiple airbag deployments. It was also determined that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Assisting at the scene were Emergency Medical Technicians from Manchester Township EMS, Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff’s CSI Unit and Freedom Towing. County Route 547 between Ridgeway Blvd., and County Route 571, was closed for several hours due to the investigation and tree removal. Sgt. Paul Bachovchin of the Manchester Police Department’s Traffic Safety section is investigating the crash with the assistance of Ptl. Michael Anderson.