Man Hurt When Kia Flips On Route 539 In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Lakewood man was injured Thursday when his car ran off Route 539 in Manchester and hit utility pole, Manchester Township police said Friday.

Justin Thomas, 24, suffered a head injury in the crash, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by ambulance for treatment; the injury was not believed to be life-threatening, he said.

Thomas was driving a white 2016 Kia Forte north on Route 539 when it left the road and went onto the dirt shoulder, then drove up the wood-line embankment, Manco said. That caused the Kia to become airborne and overturn, he said, and it hit a tree and a utility pole and landed there on its roof, stuck between the utility pole and the wood-line embankment.

Thomas was outside the car sitting on the wood-line embankment when police arrived, he said.

Patrolman Michael O'Hara is investigating the crash but failure to maintain lane and unsafe speed during rainy weather conditions appears to be the primary contributing factors, Manco said.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, members of the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services Fire Department and Whiting Volunteer Fire Department.

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