Manchester Police place a Toms River man under arrest Wednesday for fleeing the scene of a hit and run accident on Route 571 and 70 in the township around 9:44 am.

Investigators say James J. Stanley, 45, was allegedly heading west on Route 70 in a white 2012 Ford Fusion when he crossed the double yellow line into the east bound lane and hit a Honda Civic.

He then pulled away and hit a Toyota Rav 4.

After that he allegedly hopped in a passing vehicle and took off.

Stanley was found about two hours later in the Manchester Municipal Court in an unrelated matter.

He is being charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and operating a vehicle involved in a crash involving serious bodily injury during a period of license suspension.

Stanley was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

Prior to the arrest witnesses told police the male driver of the Ford had fled the scene prior to their arrival and left the scene as a passenger in another vehicle that had been passing through the area immediately following the crash.

It's not known if Stanley knew the person or not.

Two other vehicles were involved in the crash, a 2018 Honda Civic, grey in color, and a 2010 Toyota Rav 4, silver in color and the people inside needed medical attention.

The driver of the Honda, 30 year-old Daniel Krier of Cedarville, NJ was transported to Jersey Shore University Hospital Trauma Center in Neptune NJ with head and leg injuries.

The driver of the Toyota, 78 year-old Adalberto Torres of Perth Amboy, NJ was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for chest pain and possible internal injuries.

State Highway Route 70 was closed in both directions for several hours while the investigation was being conducted.

Assisting at the scene and or with the investigation were members of the Manchester Township Police Investigations and Patrol Bureaus, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport and Paramedics from MONOC. Members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Officers from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit were also on scene.

The New Jersey State Police and the NJDOT Emergency Response Team assisted with the traffic diversion during the road closure.

The cause for this crash is being investigated by Patrolmen Thomas O'Hare, Michael Anderson, Michael O'Hara, and Sergeant Antonio Ellis of the department's Traffic Safety Section.

 

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