Manchester Woman Airlifted After Jeep Liberty Hits Tree, Catches Fire

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester woman was injured Saturday when her Jeep ran off the road, hit a tree and caught fire, Manchester police said.

Laura Garciapoblano, 49, of Manchester, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune following the crash, which was reported at 2:48 p.m., Manchester Lt. Albert Vega said. She was listed as stable, Vega said.

Garciapoblano's 2008 silver Jeep Liberty was in flames when authorities arrived at the site of the crash on South Hope Chapel Road near Ridge Road, Vega said.

Garciapoblano was already out of the Jeep Liberty when police arrived, he said.

The investigation found Garciapoblano was driving south on Hope Chapel Road when the Jeep Liberty crossed the double yellow center line, left the road and hit a traffic sign, Vega said. The Jeep Liberty kept going and hit a tree before coming to a stop in the northbound shoulder of Hope Chapel Road, he said.

Patrolman Sage Sysol of the Traffic Safety Unit is investigating but the initial investigation indicates driver error appears to be the primary contributing factor, Vega said.

South Hope Chapel Road and the area near Route 571 was closed for about two hours during the crash response and investigation.

Assisting at the scene were emergency medical technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital LifeFlight Medevac Helicopter and Priced Rite Towing.