Cashier Hurt As Car Smashes Into Manchester Dollar General: PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Dollar General employee was injured Thursday when a car smashed into the front of the store on Lacey Road, Manchester police said.

The unidentified employee was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for treatment of a neck injury suffered while trying to avoid shelving that was forced from the wall during the crash, Manchester Lt. Vincent Manco said. The cashier's injuries were not life-threatening, he said.

Police were called to the store at 109 Lacey Road in the Whiting section shortly after 1 p.m. and their investigation found John R. Dzitko II, 71, of Whiting, had been sitting in a 2012 Lexus waiting for his passenger to come out of the store. The car, which was sitting in a handicapped space, was in drive and running and accelerated forward, causing it to ride up the concrete curb and hit the building, Manco said.

Dzitko was not injured, he said.

The collision caused extensive damage to the brick building. The Manchester Township building inspector responded and determined that the store had to be closed due to the integrity of the structure being significantly compromised.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Whiting First Aid, and the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department. Manchester Patrolman Stephen Hankins is investigating.

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Note: This article has been updated to correct the name of the store to Dollar General.

Photo by Manchester Township Police