Dump Truck-Box Truck Collision Disrupts Route 539 In Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A collision between a dump truck and a box truck disrupted traffic on Route 539 on Monday morning but resulted in minor injuries to the trucks' drivers, Manchester police said.

The crash was one of two motor vehicle accidents in Manchester Monday along the road that runs from Little Egg Harbor through Plumsted Township, police confirmed. The second crash forced the closure of Route 539 from Route 72 on the Stafford-Barnegat border to Lincoln Boulevard, police said. Details were not immediately available.

Pablo R. Cespedes, 48, of Passaic, was uninjured in the crash that happened shortly before 8:30 a.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said, and Kevin M. Howell, 36, of Westville, suffereed minor injuries to his knees but refused treatment.

Malland said police called to the accident found a red 2001 Mack tri-axle dump truck facing south in the woods, wedged under several trees along the northbound portion of the road, and a yellow 2013 Freightliner box truck along the northbound shoulder of the road with damage to its driver’s side.

The investigation revealed that Freightliner, driven by Cespedes, was traveling north on Route 539 when it crossed the centerline and hit the Mack dump truck, driven by Howell, causing him to lose control and the truck to leave the road and hit several trees, Malland said Both trucks sustained significant damage and were disabled, he said. Both Cespedes and Howell were wearing their seatbelts, Malland said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Whiting Volunteer First Aid Squad, he said. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Ian Bole, Malland said.

Photos provided by Manchester Township police