On Saturday, May 20, 2017, at approximately 3:42 p.m., members of the Manchester Township Police responded to 1st Street in the Pine Lake Park section of the Township to investigate a motor vehicle crash involving a SUV which struck a 7-year-old boy. Upon arrival, officers learned that a 2012 Jeep Wrangler operated by Lauren Flanagan, 31, of Manchester, struck the juvenile while she was traveling westbound on 1st Street.
The investigation revealed that Flanagan was driving on 1st Street and observing the posted speed limit when she observed several juveniles in the roadway playing basketball. Flanagan came to a complete stop and proceeded forward after she believed that all of juveniles were clear from the roadway. As Flanagan began to accelerate forward, a 7-year-old boy re-reentered the roadway, apparently to retrieve a ball. It was at this time that the juvenile was struck by the driver’s side fender of the Jeep. The Jeep did not sustain any visible damage in the crash and the juvenile was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River by his parents with a complaint of pain to his right ankle. Flanagan was uninjured in the crash.
The Manchester Township Police would like to remind all residents to always supervise their children when they are outside and to never allow them to play in the street. This crash is currently under investigation by Patrolman Anderson of the Manchester Township Traffic Safety Unit.