1 Woman Airlifted, 2nd Hospitalized After Route 70 Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — One woman was airlifted and a second woman hospitalized after a three-vehicle crash on Route 70 in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Gissela Knoll, 37 of Toms River, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, Manchester Capt. Albert Vega said. Knoll was listed as stable on Wednesday, he said.

Cheyanne Nastasi, 25, of Beachwood, was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment, Vega said.

The third driver, Felix Carter, 36, of Jackson, was not injured, he said.

The crash was reported at 3:29 p.m. at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 571, Vega said.

The investigation found Nastasi was driving a white 2017 Nissan Titan west on Route 70 and began turning left onto Route 571 south as a black 2023 Mercedes Benz EQE driven east on Route 70 by Knoll entered the intersection and hit the Nissan's rear passenger side, Vega said. The impact caused a vehicle floor jack to be thrown from the bed of the Nissan, and it hit the undercarriage of gray 2023 Kia Sportage driven by Carter, Vega said.

The crash and the cleanup closed the road for about two hours, he said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester, Ridgeway and Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Departments, Manchester Township Career Fire, Manchester Emergency Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and Priced Rite Towing.

Vega said Patrolmen Michael O'Hara and Jesse Hoydis are investigating, but the preliminary determination is that failure to yield the right of way at an intersection appears to be the primary contributing factor.