A three-vehicle crash in Manchester sent three people to area hospitals Wednesday afternoon after a van failed to yield the right of way while exiting a shopping plaza, according to local police.
Manchester Township Police said officers were dispatched around 1:22 p.m. to the intersection of Pinewald Keswick Road and Valley Stream Drive for reports of a multi-vehicle collision.
At the scene, officers found a white 2021 Ram ProMaster van with front-end damage on the westbound shoulder, a blue 1998 Jeep Cherokee with extensive front-end damage also on the westbound shoulder, and a white 2020 Nissan Rogue with heavy damage in the westbound lane of travel.
Investigators said the Ram exited the shopping plaza at 550 Pinewald Keswick Road and failed to yield to the Nissan Rogue, which was traveling west on Pinewald Keswick Road. The initial collision caused the Nissan to continue west, where it then struck the Jeep Cherokee.
The driver of the Ram was identified as 81-year-old Frances Skwirut of Manchester. Police said Skwirut reported no injuries.
The driver of the Jeep, 61-year-old Barbara Marter of Chatsworth, was transported to Deborah Hospital in Browns Mills for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Nissan, 52-year-old Tara Turner of Manchester, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and was listed in stable condition. A passenger in the Nissan, 77-year-old Sharon Richardson of Manchester, was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services and Berkeley Township assisted at the scene, along with paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, and Priced Rite Towing.
The crash remains under investigation. Police said failure to yield the right of way by the driver of the Ram appears to be the primary contributing factor. The investigation is being handled by Patrolman Brendan Brush of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
