2 Hurt In 4-Vehicle Crash After Driver Dozes Off: Manchester PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two people suffered minor injuries in four-vehicle crash on Ridgeway Road Friday morning that disrupted traffic, Manchester police said.

The crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. at the intersection of Ridgeway Road and Commonwealth Boulevard, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Malland said the crash happened when Michael Hudak, 30, of Toms River, apparently fell asleep at the wheel as he was driving a 2013 Chevrolet E250 cargo van.

Hudak's van hit the rear end of a 2016 Toyota Highlander driven by Ashley Haszko, 27, of Toms River. Haszko was stopped for a red light at the intersection at the time, Malland said.

The impact from Hudak's van pushed the Highlander into the back end of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by Monique Marra, 46, of Toms River, who also was stopped for the red light, Malland said.

The van, meanwhile, skidded out of control and hit a 2005 Cadillac SRX driven by Latoya Nicholson, 32, of Toms River. Nicholson was stopped in the left-turn lane at the time, Malland said.

Malland said Haszko reported head pain while Marra reported head and neck pain, and both were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River by ambulance for treatment, he said.

"Early indications are that driver fatigue may have been a contributing factor," Malland said, "as it appears as though the operator of the Chevy van fell asleep prior to striking the Toyota Highlander."

Hudak also was not wearing a seatbelt, Malland said.

The road was partially closed for about an hour during the rush hour commute while officers investigated the crash, tended to the injured and cleared the scene, Malland said.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from Quality Medical Transport as well as officers from the Toms River Police Department. Patrolman Anderson of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit is investigating the crash.

Photos provided by Manchester Township Police