Group of Deer cause collision in Manchester injuring motorcyclist

A group of deer that darted across Route 70 and Hilltop Road in Whiting Saturday morning led to a motorcyclist suffering from a number of injuries.

Manchester Police arrived on scene and found Deborah D. Shannon, 68, of Edison on the road in the westbound lane about a quarter mile away from her 2016 Harley-Davidson FLH motorcycle.

Shannon told police that she was heading west on Route 70 when a group of deer entered the roadway from the east bound side and into her lane of travel.

She tried to avoid hitting the deer but struck one of them and the impact threw her off the motorcycle and the Harley itself flying in a different direction.

Shannon, who police said was wearing a DOT approved helmet and leather gear, was alert and conscious but showed signs of injuries to her head, left eye and left leg.

As a result, she was transported, via medevac helicopter, to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment and evaluation of apparent non-life-threatening injuries.

The apparent deer she struck was located deceased on the westbound shoulder.

Manchester Police were assisted at the scene by EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services as well as paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and members of both the Whiting and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments.

This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.