A vehicle fire shut down a stretch of County Road 539 Wednesday evening after a Jeep burst into flames along the busy roadway in Manchester.
Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department were dispatched around 5:43 p.m. to the intersection of County Road 539 and New Mexico Drive following reports of a vehicle fire.
When officers arrived, they found a black 2012 Jeep Wrangler fully engulfed in flames.
Police quickly confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle and established a safety perimeter as firefighters rushed to the scene. Authorities temporarily closed County Road 539 in both directions to allow emergency crews to work.
Firefighters from the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company responded and were able to bring the blaze under control before fully extinguishing it.
The driver, identified as 65-year-old Tomas Pimentel of Manchester, told police he had been traveling southbound on County Road 539 when the vehicle experienced engine failure. After the Jeep came to a stop, he noticed smoke pouring from the front of the vehicle and quickly exited.
No other passengers were inside, and no injuries were reported.
Investigators from the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and determined the fire does not appear suspicious. Officials believe the blaze was likely caused by an electrical issue within the vehicle.
Traffic was eventually reopened once firefighters cleared the scene.