On Monday, April 15, 2024, at approximately 4:02 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of State Highway 70 and County Road 571 to investigate a motor vehicle crash involving a motor vehicle and a pickup truck.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a black 2002 Toyota Tundra in the intersection of State Highway 70 and County Road 571 facing eastbound with extensive front-end damage and a red 2008 Mercury Milan off the roadway against the traffic signal post with extensive passenger side and front-end damage.  The investigation revealed that the Toyota was traveling westbound on State Highway 70 through the traffic signal at the intersection of County Road 571.  The Mercury, which was traveling eastbound on State Highway 70, attempted to make a left turn onto County Road 571 northbound.  While attempting to turn left in front of the Toyota, the Toyota impacted the passenger side of the Mercury. The M ercury was pushed off the roadway and into the traffic signal post located at the northwest corner of the intersection.  The Toyota rotated counterclockwise and stopped in the intersection facing eastbound.

The driver of the Toyota, identified as 30-year-old, Casey McCarter of Browns Mills, NJ, suffered extensive injuries including a head injury.  He was transported by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, NJ.  The front seat passenger of the Toyota, identified as 65-year-old, John McCarter of Browns Mills, NJ, suffered head and facial injuries.  He was transported to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, NJ via a medevac helicopter.  The driver of the Mercury, identified as 55-year-old Donna Gerhardt of Whiting, NJ suffered injuries to include a head injury.  She was transported by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, NJ.  It was determined that neither of the occupants of the Toyota had been wearing their seatbelts.  All involved individuals are currently listed in stable condition.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, firefighters from Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and Robert Wood Johnson LifeFlight.  The investigation into this crash is still on going, however, failure to yield right of way at an intersection appears to be the primary contributing factor.  This crash is being investigated by Ptl. Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Section.