A back-end collision on Route 70 in Manchester costs a motorcyclist from the township's Whiting section his life.

Car-Motorcycle Crash, 4-12-2017 (Manchester PD)
Car-Motorcycle Crash, 4-12-2017 (Manchester PD)
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John Rolick 65, was catapulted from the seat of his 2004 Harley Wednesday night, when it was hit from behind by a car at about 9:14 PM, according to police. The crash resulted in a shutdown of the highway for several hours in the vicinity.

Rolick, headed westbound, decelerated in traffic while preparing to turn left onto Roosevelt City Road, police said.

A 1994 Chevrolet Prism, driven by Christian Merrill, 19, of Pemberton, hit the rear of the bike, police said, adding that Rolick was unconscious and without a pulse when first-responders reached him, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation failed to revive him..

Police said that Merrill and passenger Haylee Korecky, 20, also of Pemberton, wore seat restraints and complained of pain to first-aiders but refused transportation to hospital care.

Information from police did not indicate road, traffic density and lighting conditions at the intersection, the status of Rolick's tail lights and directionals or Merrill's headlamps, whether the car's tires left skid marks on the highway before the intersection, whether Merrill was given a sobriety test, or the possibility of distracted driving.

They did say that the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. So far, no word of any possible pending charges.

Involved in the crash response were members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the County Sheriff's Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the County Medical Examiner's Office, Whiting volunteer firefighters, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC Paramedics, and the New Jersey State Highway Diversion Team.

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