On Friday February 22, 2013 at 8:37 am, a crash occurred at the intersection of Southampton Blvd and Madison Ave in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester. When Ptl Thomas O’Hare arrived on scene, only one of the involved vehicles was still there. According to the 23 year old female driver still on scene, a blue van drove through the stop sign on Madison Ave and impacted the driver’s side of the 2009 Toyota Matrix she was driving. She told police after the crash the van drove away. Officers flooded the area looking for the van involved in the hit and run. Based on some evidence left at the scene, officers knew they were looking for an older blue Chevy van.
Shortly after the crash, Sgt James Dellane found a vehicle matching the van’s description. The van was parked on Madison Ave, partially covered by a tarp. Sgt Dellane and Ptl Antonio Ellis went to the residence in question to inquire about the van. The investigation revealed that the van was the vehicle involved in the hit and run. Additionally, it was determined that the driver purposely attempted to conceal the van from police. Sgt Dellane and Ptl O’Hare identified the driver, Edward J Whiteford (age 49) of Madison Ave, and placed him under arrest. He was subsequently charged with multiple motor vehicle violations as well as a criminal charge of Tampering with Evidence. Whiteford was arrested and released pending court proceedings.
The driver of the Toyota was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment and was later released. Ptl Antonio Ellis of Manchester’s Bureau of Traffic Safety and a member the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office also assisted with the investigation.