3 Hurt, 1 Airlifted After Route 70 Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — Three Whiting residents were seriously injured Sunday in a crash on Route 70 near the entrance to Manchester Plaza, Manchester police said Monday.

Donald Vanhouten, 94, and his wife, Helena Vanhouten, 93, are listed as stable and in non-critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Manchester Capt. James Komsa said.

Angel Fuentes, 62, was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, Komsa said.

The crash happened just before 11 a.m. near the ShopRite entrance, Komsa said, and involved a 2008 black Chevrolet HHR, driven by Fuentes, and a 2006 blue Toyota Sienna driven by Donald Vanhouten.

Helena Vanhouten was trapped in the Toyota and had suffered serious injuries, Komsa said. She was extricated and flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Donald Vanhouten suffered injuries to his head and abdomen and was taken by ambulance, Komsa said.

Both were wearing their seatbelts, and the vehicle had multiple airbag deployments, he said.

Police did not provide a description of how the crash happened, other than to say driver error appears to be the main contributing factor.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester, Whiting, and Ridgeway Volunteer fire Departments, Emergency Medical Technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Robert Wood John University Hospital paramedics, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital LifeFlight medevac helicopter.

Patrolman Keith Douglas is investigating.