MANCHESTER – Three people were sent to the hospital after a dump truck collided with a car and a bus on the morning of May 4, police said.
The crash happened around 8:16 a.m. at the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and Wranglebrook Road in the Whiting section of the township.
According to police, a dump truck driven by 24-year-old Eric Bair of Manahawkin was traveling northbound on Manchester Boulevard when it failed to stop at the red traffic signal at the intersection of Wranglebrook Road. As a result, the truck hit a Ford Escape driven by 55-year-old Jeffery Allen of Whiting.
The Escape was redirected into the northbound lane of Manchester Boulevard and the dump truck was redirected towards the southbound lane of Manchester Boulevard, where an E450 bus and a Mercedes were stopped at the red traffic signal.
The dump truck then collided into the Ocean E450 bus head on, and continued off the roadway. Following impact, the E450 bus rotated on its rear driver side tires, causing the rear corner of the bus to hit the Mercedes.
Bair was determined to not be wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and sustained injuries, police said. The E450 bus was driven by 62-year-old Betty Brushaber of South Toms River, also reported injuries. In addition, Allen reported injuries. All three were brought to Community Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Mercedes, 64-year-old Angel Plunkett, and her six-month-old grandchild in the car, had no reported injuries, police said.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Division of Emergency Services.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, however police believe failure to observe a traffic signal and careless driving are contributing factors.
This crash is being investigated by Patrolmen Jesse Hoydis and Connor Yatauro of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety section.
