Five hurt in Manchester crash

Five people are recovering from injuries they sustained in a Sunday crash in Manchester that ended up snapping a power line and triggering brush fires.

Police suspect that Francesco Galderese, 19, of Tinton Falls, ran his 2003 Dodge Ram pickup through a stop sign on eastbound Monroe Avenue at Lake Road in the township's Whiting at about 5:48 PM.

A 2010 Toyota driven on southbound Lake Road by David B. McLeod, 66, of Manchester, slammed the truck on the driver's side, sending it into a multiple rollover before it landed on the driver's side.

McLeod's car caromed into a utility pole, severed a line and caused several transformers to ignite, leading to the brush fires, police said. Whiting volunteer firefighters quickly tamped the flames.

All five in the vehicles were treated at Community Medical Center in Toms River. Galderese and Natale L. Brown, 19, of Neptune, complained of neck and back pain. McLeod and his passengers, age 8 and 5, were treated for minor injuries.

Police have not indicated whether either of the drivers were cited for infractions. They did not indicate road conditions, speeds, light conditions, or the possibility of distractions. Patrolman Michael Anderson leads the investigation.