WHITING – A three-car crash caused one person to be trapped in their car, Manchester Police said.
Around 3 p.m., on June 12, first responders were dispatched to Congasia Road near the intersection of Sunset Road where a car crashed into two parked cars and overturned.
Police said a white 2021 Subaru Crosstrek overturned on top of a white 2017 Hyundai Elantra with the driver of the Subaru trapped inside. First responders were able to stabilize the Subaru and extricate the driver through the front windshield.
The driver of the Subaru, 84-year-old Anna Grissell of Whiting, sustained injuries to her abdomen and neck. Police said she was wearing her seatbelt and the car had side curtain airbag deployment. Grissell was transported via medevac helicopter to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries where she is currently listed as non-critical and stable condition.
According to police, the Subaru was traveling northbound on Congasia Road approaching the intersection of Sunset Road when it failed to properly negotiate the curve in the roadway.
The Subaru then drove off the roadway to the left and struck a sign. The Subaru continued through the intersection of Sunset Road, where it left the roadway a second time, police said.
The Subaru then impacted a second sign, went airborne for approximately 50 feet, struck various shrubbery and trees, and ultimately impacted a bush. Police said the bush caused the Subaru to get pushed onto the vehicle’s driver side two tires and subsequently onto the driver side of the car.
The Subaru then continued advancing forward, entered the parking lot of Deerfield Hall located at 6 Congasia Road, and hit two parked cars: the Hyundai as well as a white 2007 Toyota Camry.
The impact with the parked cars caused the Subaru to vault into the air and land on top of the Hyundai. The Hyundai and Toyota were both unoccupied at the time of the crash, police said.
At this time, the crash is under investigation. However, police believe the Grissell suffered a medical episode while driving, which is the primary factor.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Joint Base Fire Department, Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, United States Air Force Rescue, Emergency Medical Technicians and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Robert Wood John University Hospital Paramedics, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital LifeFlight Medevac Helicopter.
The crash is being investigated by Ptl. Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
