Four Teens Hurt As Car Hits Tree On Route 37 In Manchester

Four teens -- three of whom did not appear to be wearing their seat belts -- have been hospitalized after the driver lost control of the car and hit a tree on Route 37 in Manchester on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Kyle J. Nickerson, 18, of Jackson, and a 16-year-old who was in the back seat were listed in critical condition, while Matthew Olido, 19, of Manchester, and the 17-year-old who was driving the car are both listed in stable condition, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said. All four are at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, he said.

The crash happened about 3:30 p.m., Malland said, when the 17-year-old who was driving lost control of the gray 2011 Kia Soul and the car left the road and hit a tree head-on near East Main Street.

Police are not releasing the driver’s name due to his age, Malland said.

The driver, who was wearing his seat belt, suffered back, neck, chest, and leg injuries and was taken by ambulance for treatment, he said.

Nickerson, who was in the front seat, did not appear to have been wearing his seatbelt and had to be extricated from the car by members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company. He suffered significant head trauma and was airlifted by South Star medevac helicopter, Malland said.

The 16-year-old was seated behind the driver and suffered serious internal injuries and was airlifted to Jersey Shore by Penn Star medevac helicopter, he said.

Olido, who was in the back seat on the passenger side, suffered internal and leg injuries and was taken to Jersey Shore by ambulance. Neither rear seat passenger appeared to have been wearing their seatbelt, Malland said.

The right lane of Route 37 was closed for several hours while emergency responders were treating the injured and investigating the accident, he said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, and the Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid Squad, as well as members of Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC, and crews from South Star and Penn Star Medevac. Also assisting were detectives from both the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Support Team.

Patrolman Ian Bole of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Section and Detective Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating.

(Photos: Manchester Township Police)