Ambulance Carrying Patient, SUV Collide In Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — An ambulance carrying a patient and an SUV collided on Route 37 Wednesday, tying up traffic but not resulting in any sesrious injuries, Manchester police said.

The Manchester Volunteer First Aid ambulance was transporting a patient to Community Medical Center, Toms River, about 3:40 p.m. when the collision happened, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Malland said the ambulance, driven by Chase Swartz, 20, of Seaside Park, was headed south on Colonial Drive and turning onto Route 37 eastbound at the time of collision with the 2016 Hyundai Tucson that was westbound on Route 37 and driven by Lorraine Flatley, 77, of Whiting.

The initial investigation showed the ambulance had its lights and sirens activated at the time of the crash but had entered the intersection against the red traffic signal, Malland said. The ambulance and the Tucson collided in the westbound lanes of Route 37, he said.

Neither Swartz nor the front-seat passenger in the ambulance, Caroline Bruckel, 52, of Manchester were injured, Malland said. The 57-year-old patient in the ambulance was not injured in the crash but did need to be transferred to another ambulance afterward, he said.

Flatley and her front-seat passenger, Annette Black, 82, of Whiting, sustained minor injuries but refused additional medical attention at the scene, Malland said.

The crash is currently under investigation by Patrolman Michael O’Hara and Patrolman Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit and motor vehicle charges are pending, Malland said.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact the department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 732-657-2009 ext. 4401.

Photos provided by Manchester Township Police Department