3 Hurt, 1 'Critical' In Route 37 Crash in Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester man was in critical condition following a Route 37 crash on Tuesday morning, police said.

Kunie Brown, 51, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was listed in critical and unstable condition, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said.

A 17-year-old male from Lakehurst and Brandon Carman, 21, of Lakehurst, both were injured in the crash. The 17-year-old was treated at Community Medical Center in Toms River for injuries that were not life-threatening, Manco said, and Carman was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition.

The teen was driving a blue Saturn Vue east on Route 37 when it collided with a red 2007 Acura RDX driven by Brown. Brown was turning left from Bone Hill Road onto Route 37 west at the time, Manco said. His car wound up on Buckingham Drive in the southbound lane facing northbound.

All three were determined to have been wearing their seatbelts and both vehicles had multiple airbag deployment, Manco said.

The intersection was partially closed causing traffic delays while officers investigated the crash. Manco said the preliminary investigation said disregarding a traffic signal appears to be the primary contributing factor.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services Fire Department, Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, and Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, as well as, Manchester Township Division of Emergency Service EMTs, Toms River EMTs, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and Hackensack Meridian Flight Paramedics. Manchester Township Office of Emergency Management Director Arthur Abline was also on scene to assist.

Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Section is investigating.

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