2 Hospitalized In Tractor-Trailer Crash At Route 70-539 Intersection In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two people remained hospitalized Friday following a crash at the Route 70-Route 539 intersection Thursday evening in Manchester when a car ran a red light and hit a tractor-trailer, then hit a second car, Manchester police said.

Lisa Kopcho, 45, of Manchester, was listed as stable at Community Medical Center in Toms River, Manchester Sgt. Joseph Fastige said. She sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, he said.

Also taken to Community Medical Center was Khalilah Hickman, 47, who also sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, Fastige said. She was listed as stable as well.

The crash was reported at 6:16 p.m. Thursday, Manchester Sgt. Joseph Fastige said.

The investigation found Denell Sanders, 47, from Bear, Delaware, was driving a blue 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer west on Route 70 and was turning right onto Route 539 north when Hanna Ruark, 27, driving a 2020 Toyota Sienna north on Route 539 didn't stop for a red traffic signal and went into the intersection at Route 70, hitting the tractor-trailer on the driver's side, Fastige said.

The impact caused the Toyota to be pushed into the southbound turning lane on Route 539 where it hit the front end of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by Kopcho that was sitting at the red light, Fastige said.

Ruark, of Bordentown, was not injured in the crash, he said.

Sanders told police and first responders he had knee pain but he did not require transportation to the hospital. Hickman was a passenger in his tractor-trailer, Fastige said.

Kopcho was taken to the hospital by the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, and Hickman was taken by South Toms River EMS, he said.

Route 70 and Route 539 were partially closed for just under two hours as a result of the crash.

The investigation into this crash is still ongoing, but the primary contributing factor, at this stage, appears to be the failure to observe a traffic signal, Fastige said.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, South Toms River EMS, and members of the Whiting Fire Department.

Patrolman Brendan Brush of the Traffic Safety Unit is investigating.