Brake Failure Leads To Fiery Snowbank Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — An Ocean County man escaped unharmed when his car caught fire after crashing into a snow bank when its brakes failed on Thursday, Manchester police said.

Daryl Rosenblatt, 49, told police he was driving north on Renaissance Drive shortly after 8 a.m. on Thursday when he felt the brakes in his 2011 Hyundai Sonota fail as neared the stop sign at Renaissance Boulevard, Manchester Capt. Albert Vega said.

Rosenblatt also saw smoke coming from the front of his car, Vega said.

Rosenblatt told police he deliberately drove into a snow bank in an effort to stop the car, and then turned onto Renaissance Boulevard, Vega said. Rosenblatt hit a second snow bank on the passenger side of the car and it came to a stop just before Courtney Lane, Vega said.

The car caught fire after Rosenblatt got out of it, Vega said.

Rosenblatt, who police listed as being from Toms River but whose address online is in Berkeley Township, was not injured.

The car was completely engulfed in flames when police and firefighters arrived, but it was quickly extinguished by the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, and Manchester Career Fire Department.

"Due to the extent of the fire damage, the braking system could not be tested, and impact damage could not be assessed," Vega said.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature, he said. Patrolman Sage Sysol is investigating.

"The Manchester Township Police Department would like to thank all responding fire departments for their prompt response and professionalism in quickly extinguishing the fire," Vega said.

In 2014 Hyundai recalled 883,000 Sonatas due to problems with the brake calipers, the Christian Science Monitor reported. A second recall in 2024 was issued for problems with the anti-lock braking system, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.