LAKEHURST – A Toms River man is in critical condition after suffering from a medical episode which caused a two-car crash this morning on Route 70, Lakehurst Police said.
Around 9:20 a.m. the Lakehurst and Manchester Police Departments responded to a crash at the border of both jurisdictions near the intersection of Route 70 and Tobias Avenue.
According to police, 58-year-old Vincent Malaquias was driving a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander when he suffered a suspected medical episode and hit a guardrail. He then continued east on Route 70 and entered the westbound lane.
As a result, he hit a 2017 Toyota Corolla operated by 34-year-old Jasmin Cruzbarrera of Toms River.
Malaquias was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition, police said. Cruzbarrera was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for suspected minor injuries.
Due to the crash, both cars were disabled in the roadway blocking traffic. This caused Route 70 to be closed for about two hours in both directions between the Lakehurst Circle and Colonial Drive.
Assisting on scene were members of the Manchester Police Department Patrol Division, Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Division, Manchester Township Fire Department, Manchester Township EMS, Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments, RWJ University Hospital Paramedics, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Unit, and the NJ Department of Transportation.
