On Thursday, December 24, 2015, at approximately 11:05 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Routes 70 and 571 for the report of a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers learned that a blue 2004 Nissan Sentra was traveling westbound on Route 70 through the intersection of Route 571, when it struck a pedestrian who was walking southbound inside the crosswalk.
Preliminary investigation determined that the pedestrian failed to observe the crossing signal as the Nissan Sentra had the green light and the right of way. Dense fog and wet roads were determined to have played a factor in the visibility of the pedestrian.
The pedestrian, identified as 77 year old Roseann Riley of Manchester, sustained significant injuries to her head, both legs, and right shoulder and was transported by ground to Jersey Shore University Medical Hospital where she is currently in serious condition. The driver of the Nissan Sentra, 39 year old Tiffanyan Smith of Jackson, was properly restrained and was not injured in the collision. Her front seat passenger, 70 year old Sherylann Smith of Jackson, was also properly restrained and uninjured in the collision.
The left and turn lanes of State Highway 70 were closed for several hours while emergency responders were on scene. Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid Squad, paramedics from MONOC, and detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. The accident is currently under investigation by Patrolman Ian Bole of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Section.