On Sunday, two separate hit-and-run incidents involving pedestrians being struck took place within hours of each other in Manchester Township. The Manchester Township Police Department is actively investigating both incidents, urging the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicles and operators involved.
At approximately 12:59 pm, officers were dispatched to Northampton Boulevard near the exit of Silverwoods Independent Living in response to a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. The victim, 71-year-old Daniel Beatty of Manchester, NJ, was struck by a vehicle described as an older grey or silver model Chevrolet pick-up truck.
According to Mr. Beatty, he was crossing over East Point Drive at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard when the unidentified pick-up truck, exiting the Silverwoods Independent Living property, disregarded a stop sign and appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed. The collision with the pick-up truck caused Mr. Beatty to fall to the ground, after which the pick-up truck fled the scene heading east on Northampton Boulevard towards State Highway 37.
Mr. Beatty sustained injuries to his head and left hand, and he was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for apparent non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into this crash is still ongoing, but at this point, initial findings suggesting that failure to yield to a pedestrian and disregarding a stop sign are the primary contributing factors.
Later the same day, at approximately 7:52 pm, another crash involving a pedestrian took place at the intersection of State Highway 37 and Bone Hill Road. A pedestrian, 59-year-old Mark Bryan of Manchester, NJ, was struck by a vehicle described as a dark-colored, possibly blue, Hyundai Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Mr. Bryan had been crossing State Highway 37 at the intersection of Bone Hill Road when the unidentified SUV, making a left turn from Buckingham Drive, collided with him on his right side, causing him to fall to the ground. Subsequently, the SUV fled the scen traveling west on State Highway 37.
Mr. Bryan sustained injuries to the right side of his body, specifically his leg, shoulder, elbow, and foot. He was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for apparent non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into this crash is still ongoing, but at this point, initial findings suggesting that failure to yield to a pedestrian is the primary contributing factor.
Assisting at both crash scenes were Emergency Medical Technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services and Paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Any information into the identity of the involved vehicles or operators of either crash, please contact Manchester Township Police Department. Both crashes are being investigated by Ptl. Brendan Brush of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.