On Thursday, July 22, 2021, at approximately 12:57pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to Lacey Road in the Whiting Section of the township to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving a Dump Truck colliding with a sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2020 Kia Soul on the westbound shoulder of Lacey Road with extensive front end damage and a 2007 Peterbilt dump truck on the eastbound shoulder of Lacey Road with moderate damage to the front passenger side. The investigation revealed that the Kia began traveling in reverse in the westbound lane of Lacey Road into an adjacent driveway in attempt to make a U-Turn. The Kia then immediately attempted to make a left turn out of the driveway to travel eastbound on Lacey Road. The dump truck had been traveling westbound on Lacey Road at that time. The Kia subsequently turned left, at which time it entered into the path of travel of the dump truck resulting in the collision. The front passenger side area of the dump truck impacted the front driver side area of the Kia.
The driver of the Kia, identified as 90-year-old, William Goldenbaum, was transported via ambulance to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment and evaluation of apparent non-life-threatening injuries. The front seat passenger of the Kia identified as, 92-year-old, Louise Tully, suffered lower extremity injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune by medevac helicopter, where she was listed in critical but stable condition. The driver of the dump truck, identified as 27-year-old, Brendon Poff, did not sustain any injuries from the accident and declined medical treatment.
Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, as well as, Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but at this point, failure to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic appears to be the primary contributing factor. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Conner Yatauro and Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Section.