On Tuesday afternoon, September 19, 2017, at approximately 2:45 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to Commonwealth Boulevard near the intersection of Cumberland Boulevard, in the Pine Lake Park section of the Township for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles and a downed utility pole.
Upon arrival, officers located the involved vehicles, a 2016, Ford F-150 pick-up and a 2014, Chevy Malibu as well as a downed utility pole and wires. The initial investigation revealed that the Ford pick-up which was being operated by, 23-year-old, Kim M. Mork 2nd of Manchester, left the roadway while travelling west on Commonwealth Boulevard in the vicinity of Cumberland Boulevard. In doing so, the vehicle struck and severed a utility pole causing it and its attached wires to fall into the roadway. As it fell, it struck the Chevy Malibu, which was being operated by 84-year-old, Helen Holland of Toms River, as it traveled east on Commonwealth Boulevard. The force of the impact caused damage to Hollander’s windshield and the roof. Additionally, the severing of the first utility pole caused damage to two other nearby utility poles. This resulted in intermittent power outages in the area. Neither driver sustained any injuries during the crash and both were wearing their seatbelts.
As of the time of this release, Commonwealth Boulevard is closed in both directions as the three damaged utility poles are being replaced and the wires repaired. Residents in the surrounding area may experience power outages while JCP&L workers make the necessary repairs.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments. The crash is being investigated by Corporal Douglas Higgins of the department’s Patrol Bureau.