MANCHESTER – Two individuals sustained minor injuries as a result of a fiery collision that occurred on Easter Sunday, police said.
On April 21, at approximately 7 p.m., officers responded to the intersection at Commonwealth Boulevard and Beacon Street in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester Township for reports of a crash.
Thomas Roth, 18, of Toms River was driving a 2003 Nissan westbound on Commonwealth when he collided with a 2014 BMW. The BMW, driven by 62-year old Drake Carpenter of Columbia, MD, was traveling north on Beacon Street when the collision occurred. Carpenter failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection, causing the collision, officers said.
The Nissan sustained extensive front end damage and heavy smoke and flames were emanating from the engine when police arrived. Members of the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire.
The BMW also sustained heavy front end damage.
Roth sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash. Carpenter was unharmed in the crash, however his passenger 60-year old Margaret Carpenter sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center.
Traffic near the area was diverted for approximately two hours during the investigation and cleanup of the crash.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Police and Quality Medical Transport. The investigation is ongoing.
