MANCHESTER – An elderly couple sustained serious injuries during an accident on July 27.
The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on July 27 near Route 70’s mile marker 43 in Whiting. The officers responded to a red, 2013 Kia Soul overturned on its driver side in the woods on the eastbound side of the roadway. The officers determined the Kia Soul was traveling west on Route 70, when it began to drift into the eastbound lane of travel. It crossed the centerline of the roadway and entered into the eastbound lane, and then onto the dirt shoulder of the roadway.
The vehicle continued to travel in the dirt shoulder prior to striking a utility pole and rolling over. The driver, identified as 79-year-old Russell Van Pelt, suffered multiple injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was listed in stable condition.
Judith Van Pelt, 74, was a front seat passenger and she suffered multiple injuries and was also flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and was listed in stable condition. The roadway was closed during the rescue and cleanup.
The accident investigation is continuing, but at this point, failure to maintain lane is believed to be the contributing cause of the crash. Lieutenant Antonio Ellis, Patrolman Conner Yatauro and Patrolman Jesse Hoydis of the Manchester Police Department Traffic Safety section are the investigating officers.
Responding to the scene were EMTs and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, as well as members of the Manchester and Whiting Volunteer Fire Departments, the Joint Base Fire Department, Lakehurst Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and representatives from Jersey Central Power and Light and Verizon.
