Head-On Crash On Route 70 Kills Whiting Woman: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester woman was killed and a Brick Township man was seriously injured Monday morning in a head-on collision on Route 70 in Manchester, police said.

Gerda Kretschmer, 81, of Whiting, died of injuries she suffered in the crash, which happened near mile marker 41 about 11:45 a.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

James A. Canfield, 49, of Brick, suffered injuries to his chest and shoulder and was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, Malland said.

Malland said the initial investigation showed Kretschmer was driving a red Toyota Echo east on Route 70 when her car crossed the center line into the westbound lane, then onto the shoulder and the berm along the road where it hit the silver Toyota Sienna minivan driven by Canfield head-on. Canfield was westbound but attempted to swerve out of the path of the Echo, Malland said.

Kretschmer's car had multiple air bags that deployed but she suffered serious internal injuries, Malland said. She was extricated from the car by members of teh Whiting Volunteer Fire Company and taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, where she succumbed to her injuries, he said.

Canfield also was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, Malland said.

Route 70 was partially closed for several hours while emergency workers tended to the injured, conducted their investigation and cleared the scene, he said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, and paramedics from MONOC. Also assisting were detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Ian Bole.

Photo provided by Manchester Township Police