Tuckerton Woman, Child Airlifted To Separate Hospitals After Two-Car Crash In Stafford

A Tuckerton woman was badly injured in a two-car, head-on crash Wednesday evening at the intersection of Route 9 and Mayetta Landing Road in Stafford Township, Officer Justin Pascale said.

Police responded to the scene at 7:36 p.m. Investigation revealed that Paige Spano, Tuckerton, was traveling south on Route 9 in a 1995 Geo Metro and approaching the intersection of Mayetta Landing Road when a 2013 Chrysler 300 operated by Eileen King, 51, of Cedar Run crossed over the center line and crashed into Spano's vehicle, Pascale said.

Spano suffered extensive injuries and was airlifted by PennStar to Atlantic City Trauma Center for treatment. King was transported to Southern Ocean Medical Center for minor injuries by Stafford EMS. King also had a five-year-old on board at the time of the collision. The child was not in a child restraint seat and suffered moderate injuries, he said.

The juvenile was airlifted by MONOC to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and was expected to be released shortly.

Investigation is underway to determine why King crossed over the center line. She was charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain land and failure to secure a child in a child restraint seat, Pascale said.

Traffic on Route 9 was detoured around the crash scene for approximately four hours.

The collision is under investigation by Stafford Police Traffic Safety Officer Pascale and by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Any witnesses are asked to contact 609-597-1189 X8436.

Image: Patch file photo.