2 Hospitalized After SUV Hits Utility Pole, Brings Down Wires On Route 70 In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — A driver who suffered a medical episode ran off the road and hit a utility pole on Route 70 in Manchester on Tuesday, injuring him and his passenger, police said.

Michael R. Kehrle, 72, of Manchester, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with chest and neck injuries, Lt. Albert Vega said. His passenger, Leslie A. Kehrle, 67, also of Manchester, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center as well, with head injuries, he said.

Both are listed as stable and both were wearing their seatbelts, he said.

The crash happened about 5 p.m. Tuesday on Route 70 near Green Acres Road. Kehrle was driving a black 2020 Honda SUV east on Route 70 when he suffered the medical episode and ran onto the shoulder on the right side of the road, Vega said.

The Honda went 55 feet on the grass shoulder before hitting the utility pole, which snapped, bringing wires down across the road, Vega said. It knocked out power to homes and several traffic signals in the area, police said at the time.

Route 70 was closed for about three hours while the Kehrles were taken to the hospital and the wires were removed from the road.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, firefighters from Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson LifeFlight, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation Diversion Team.

Patrolman Conner Yatauro of the Traffic Safety Section is investigating.