Man Killed On Rt. 33 Reignites Debate Over Manalapan Manor

MANALAPAN, NJ — The man who was hit and killed Wednesday night on Rt. 33 in Manalapan was a resident of Manalapan Manor, a group home local officials have for years been begging the governor and state officials to shut down.

The 38-year-old Newark man was outside of the marked crosswalk when he was hit by two cars at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, at the intersection of Rt. 33 and Woodward Road. He was first struck by a 32-year-old Neptune woman, and then hit again by a 54-year-old woman from East Windsor, who struck the man as he lay in the roadway.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, said police. Both women stayed at the scene.

"Another resident of Manalapan (Marion) Manor was killed last night on State Highway 33," wrote Manalapan Mayor Susan Cohen Thursday — immediately after the fatality — to Edward Smith, the director of codes and standards at the state Department of Community Affairs. "The two women's lives who hit this resident will never be the same."

"In the letter that we sent on November 6, 2019, we clearly stated, 'Residents of Manalapan should not have to fear driving down Route 33 and killing someone or driving into a panhandler," continued Cohen. "Unfortunately, our fears have come true."

This is the second time Cohen has contacted the state to complain about Manalapan Manor, formerly known as Marianne Manor. For several years now, she and local Manalapan residents have sought to have the state shut it down.

"The matter is still under investigation," said a Dept. of Community Affairs spokeswoman on Friday.

In this scathing letter Cohen sent to the Gov. Phil Murphy in November, she referred to Manalapan Manor as "atrocious ... deplorable ... We implore you for assistance in getting this facility shut down."

The Rt. 33 adult mental health home is infested with bed bugs, cockroaches, has sewage backing up in the bathtubs and — tragically — has seen several residents die, either from being hit by cars on Rt. 33, heroin overdoses or suicide, said Cohen.

When Patch called Manalapan Manor Friday, the receptionist first hung up on us. We called back and were told "the owners will make a statement when they feel like it."

Residents in the privately-run home are frequently left unsupervised and allowed to roam Rt. 33 on foot, where they have been struck by cars, she said. Patch has previously reported on these incidents, several of which were fatal. Between 2014 and 2016, three people were hit and killed by cars while attempting to cross that intersection.

"The residents of that facility frequently walk to the businesses located at that intersection," Manalapan Police Captain Thomas Barstow told Patch back in 2016. "This is not the first person from that facility that has been struck by a vehicle in that area."

"Not certain but 99% of the walkers are from the center. It's dark and poorly lit. They practically walk right into the road," a local Manalapan resident told Patch. "We've had many instances of having to avoid running someone over. They're unstable and walk aimlessly all day and all night."

Unsupervised residents also frequent local businesses and neighbors, starting fights and disturbances or simply wander alone to the local Wawa and Walgreen's. They also break into nearby homes and businesses, said the resident, who did not want to give her name.

Manalapan Manor is owned by Mahir Patel. It is licensed by the state Dept. of Community Affairs to operate as a mental health facility. Manalapan Manor also currently has plans to launch an ambitious renovation.

"The 'owners' of the facility, led by a Mr. Jay Thakar, came to a meeting at Town Hall (Thursday) morning," said Cohen in her letter to DCA this week. "Your office advised us in an email dated December 3, 2019 that there were only eight residents remaining in the facility. Just this morning the 'owners' claimed that they currently have sixteen members living there."

"No human being should have to live like that," said Cohen.

"We continue to fear the loss of life, the lack of quality care, and the disgusting living conditions," Cohen wrote to the state of New Jersey in her latest letter this week. "We again implore you to revoke their license."

Gov. Phil Murphy was copied on all the letters.

Ongoing Patch coverage of Manalapan/Marianne Manor: Manalapan Mayor To Gov: Shut Mental Health Facility Down (Nov. 2019)

Dangerous Rt. 33 Intersection Claims 3rd Life In Two Years (Oct. 2016)