Driver Suffers Medical Episode As SUV Runs Off Road, Lands On Car In Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township woman remains hospitalized Tuesday after she suffered a medical episode that led to her SUV going airborne and landing on another vehicle, Manchester police said.

Anna Grissell, 84, of Whiting, was listed as non-critical and stable at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, where she was flown for treatment of her injuries where she is currently listed as non-critical and stable condition, Capt. James Komsa said.

The crash happened about 3 p.m. Monday on Congasia Road near Sunset Road, Komsa said.

Investigators determined Grissell was driving north in a white 2021 Subaru Crosstrek on Congasia Road when she suffered a medical episode, Komsa said.

Congasia Road is curved near the intersection with Sunset Road, and the Subaru missed the curve and drove off the road and hit a sign. It then went through the intersection with Sunset Road and ran off the road again, hitting a second sign and going airborne for about 50 feet, hitting various shrubbery and trees then a bush, Komsa said.

The impact with the bush caused the Subaru to lift up onto its two driver's side tires, and it kept moving forward, into the parking lot at Deerfield Hall, 6 Congasia Road, and hitting two parked cars — a 2017 Hyundai Elantra and a white 2007 Toyota Camry, he said.

The impact with the two cars vaulted the Subaru into the air and it landed on the Hyundai, Komsa said.

The Hyundai and the Toyota both were unoccupied at the time, he said.

Grissell was wearing her seat belt, he said. She suffered injuries to her abdomen and neck and had to be extricated, which was done through the windshield according to the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, which responded.

In addition to the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, assisting at the scene were members of the Joint Base Fire Department, U.S. Air Force Rescue, emergency medical technicians and firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Robert Wood John University Hospital paramedics, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital LifeFlight medevac helicopter.

Whiting Volunteer Fire Company shared additional photos of the scene on its Facebook page.

Manchester Patrolman Michael O'Hara of the Traffic Safety Unit is investigating.