A Whiting Volunteer First Aid ambulance was struck while exiting the First Aid Squad building on County Route 530 near Lake Road at approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9.
The ambulance was occupied by three volunteer squad members that were en route to an emergency call with its lights and siren activated when it was struck by a large box truck that was traveling east on County Route 530.
The ambulance was being operated by Albert Stover, 80, of Whiting. The crew members that were passengers in the ambulance were Bryan Platt, 56, of New Egypt and John Valdora, 73, of Whiting.
Mr. Stover and Mr. Valdora, a front seat passenger, were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River by Quality Medical Transport for complaints of pain. The rear seat crew member, Mr. Platt, complained of right arm pain but refused medical attention.
The box truck is registered to Optimum Moving LLC out of Elmwood Park, NJ. It was being operated by David Pinuel, 20, from Fairlawn, NJ.
There were two other occupants in the box truck at the time of the crash. Neither the driver or the occupants of the box truck reported any injuries at the scene.
This crash is under investigation by Patrolman Antonio Ellis of the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Section.