On Sunday, April 21, 2019, at approximately 7:10 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of Commonwealth Blvd., and Beacon Street in the Pine Lake Park section, to investigate a report of a crash involving two vehicles, one of which had reportedly caught fire.

Upon arrival, officers observed a 2003 Nissan with extensive front end damage, heavy smoke and flames emanating from the engine compartment and a 2014 BMW also with extensive front end damage. Members of the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire.

The investigation revealed that the Nissan had been traveling West on Commonwealth Blvd., and as it entered the intersection of Beacon Street, the BMW which had been traveling North on Beacon Street, failed to observe the stop sign, causing the collision.

The driver of the Nissan, 18 year old Thomas Roth of Toms River, sustained non-life threatening injuries. The juvenile passenger in the Nissan refused medical treatment at the scene. Mr. Roth was transported to Community Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of his injuries. The driver of the BMW, 62 year old Drake Carpenter of Columbia, Maryland, was not injured in the crash, however his passenger, 60 year old Margaret Carpenter, was transported to Community Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

As a result of the crash, traffic in the area was diverted for approximately 2 hours during the investigation and cleanup.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Police and Quality Medical Transport. This crash is being investigated by Officer Jordan Weed of the Manchester Township Police Patrol Bureau.