On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at approximately 8:29 am, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 530 and Congasia Road in the Whiting section of town to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles and a utility trailer in the roadway.
Upon arrival, officers observed an orange 2009 Kia Rio and a white 2016 Chevrolet dump truck both in the roadway with extensive damage to their front driver’s sides. Ablack 2018 utility trailer was also found in the roadway with extensive damage to its right side. The investigation revealed that the Kia was traveling west on Route 530 and crossed the centerline into the east bound lane when it collided into Chevrolet which was traveling east. The collision caused the Chevrolet to overturn onto its passenger side and the trailer in tow to be unhitched and thrown nine feet into the air where it collided with a tree. The Chevrolet was then redirected after the trailer was unhitched and rolled back onto its upright position.
The driver of the Kia, identified as 47 year old Frank Crisci Jr., was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision, however, was trapped and unable to exit the vehicle. The front seat passenger of the Kia, identified as 45 year old Awilda Rivera, was also wearing her seatbelt and was able to exit the vehicle on her own. The front and side curtain airbags of the Kia were deployed and rescue crews were able to extricate Mr. Crisci from his vehicle and he was airlifted by medevac helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for the treatment of serious injuries to his extremities. Mrs. Rivera was also transported by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for the treatment of abdominal injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet, 45 year old Jose Sanchez and 56 year old front seat passenger Juan Solorzano, both of Lakewood, reported to have been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision. Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Solorzano were both transported by ambulance to Community Medical Center in Toms River for the treatment of injuries to their extremities.
Assisting at the scene were Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Fire Department, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC Paramedics, and the Whiting Volunteer First Aid Squad. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.