MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ—A severe head-on collision occurred late Wednesday night on State Highway 70 near mile marker 34.5, involving two vehicles and resulting in critical injuries for one of the drivers.
At approximately 11:24 PM, Manchester Township Police responded to the crash scene where they discovered a 2014 Acura MDX and a 2007 Ford Escape with extensive front-end damage. According to the preliminary investigation, the Acura, driven by 61-year-old Scott Steward of Browns Mills, NJ, was traveling westbound and attempted to overtake two vehicles. In doing so, it crossed into the eastbound lane, directly into the path of the Ford, driven by 22-year-old Jake Fee of East Windsor, NJ.
Both drivers, who were wearing their seatbelts, tried to swerve onto the eastbound shoulder to avoid a collision. Despite their efforts, the vehicles collided, causing the Ford to spin clockwise and crash into a tree on the roadside.
Steward sustained minor injuries and declined further medical treatment at the scene. Fee suffered extensive injuries and was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.
The scene was attended by multiple emergency services, including EMTs from Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, South Toms River First Aid, On-time First Aid, firefighters from Whiting Volunteer Fire Company and Joint Base MDL Fire Company, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and law enforcement from Pemberton Township Police and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit.
The investigation is ongoing, led by Patrolman Sage Sysol and Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the Manchester Township Traffic Safety Unit, with initial findings pointing to driver error during the overtaking maneuver as the primary cause of the crash.