Home, 3 Vehicles Damaged In Manchester Hit-And-Run Crash: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester woman is accused of leaving the scene of a crash late Monday that caused two vehicles to hit a home on Lockhart Street, Manchester police said.

Alexis Connotillo, 29, was driving a 2021 Hyundai Elantra that triggered the crash when it rear-ended a 2005 Toyota Tacoma on Route 571 shortly after 11 p.m., Capt. Vincent Manco said.

Witnesses told police the Elantra was headed south on Route 571, weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed, when it tried to change into the right lane and hit the Tacoma, Manco said.

The impact caused the Tacoma to run off the road onto the property of 1764 Lockhart St., where it hit the rear of a 2010 Honda CR-V that was parked in the home's driveway. That knocked the Honda forward, where it hit the house and garage. The Tacoma, meanwhile, hit a shed.

The Elantra continued south on Route 571, crossing over the fog line and centerline of the road several times before coming to a stop on the northbound grass shoulder, Manco said.

The investigation Connotillo, who was identified later, had run off from the scene of the crash before police arrived, he said.

Dominic Frizino, 70, of Manchester, who was driving the Tacoma, was not injured, Manco said. No one was in the Honda CR-V. The home was examined by the Manchester Township Building Inspector and was deemed safe for the residents to remain in the household, he said.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, firefighters from Manchester Volunteer Fire Company and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, Ocean County Sheriff Departments K-9 Unit, the Manchester Township Police Department Drone Unit, and the Manchester Township Building Inspector.

The investigation into the crash is continuing but the contributing factors of the accident are unsafe speed, improper lane change and following too closely. Patrolman Conner Yatauro is investigating.

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