On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 6:45 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to County Route 539 in the Whiting Section of town to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle into a telephone/utility pole.

Upon arrival, officers observed a 2019 Yamaha XSR motorcycle on the shoulder on the northbound side of the roadway. The preliminary investigation revealed that the motorcycle was traveling north on County Route 539 and as it approached the intersection of Lincoln Blvd., it left the roadway and impacted a telephone/utility pole.  The operator of the motorcycle, identified as 32 year old Phillip Gurganious of Browns Mills, was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained as a result of the crash.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, Ocean County Medical Examiner, Manchester EMS and Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing. This crash is being investigated by Sergeant Paul Bachovchin, Patrolman Jesse Hoydis and Patrolman Michael Anderson of the department’s Traffic Safety section.