1 Killed, 1 Seriously Injured In Route 70 Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — One person was killed and a second seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash that shut down Route 70 for nearly four hours on Wednesday, Manchester Township police said.

Lisandro V. Morales, 65, of Manchester, was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River with extensive internal injuries, Capt. Albert Vega said. Morales succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, he said.

Joseph Rodaligo, 37, of Jackson, was taken to Community Medical Center with injuries to his neck and several internal injuries. An update on his condition was not available Thursday morning.

The driver of the third vehicle, Jociane Costa De Souza, 33, of Delanco, and her passenger, a 4-year-old girl, were not injured in the crash, which was reported at 3:26 p.m., Vega said.

De Souza was driving a white 2019 Honda Passport west on Route 70 and was slowing down to turn right onto Beckerville Road when she was hit on the rear driver's side by a black 2014 Lincoln MKX driven by Morales, who also was headed west on Route 70 and was following the Honda too closely, Vega said.

De Souza's Honda came to rest on the westbound shoulder of Route 70, Vega said.

Morales' Lincoln was redirected and crossed over the center line of Route 70, where it hit the 2016 Nissan Rogue driven by Rodaligo — who was headed east — head-on, he said.

The Lincoln spun 180 degrees after that impact and came to rest facing east in the eastbound lane, and the Nissan was forced backward and came to a stop facing east on the shoulder of Route 70, Vega said.

Vega said there was a fourth vehicle at the scene with damage to its front bumper and undercarriage, but it was not involved in the initial crash.

The crash is being investigated by Patrolman Conner Yatauro.

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