Man Who Fled Route 70 Crash Arrested After Knocking On Seniors' Doors: Manchester PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Pennsylvania man was arrested Sunday evening after a 24-hour search following a three-vehicle crash that closed Route 70 and injured his passenger on Saturday, Manchester police said Monday.

Roy W. Deronde Jr., 48, was arrested Sunday at a home in Leisure Village East, where he was tracked after residents of Leisure Village West notified police that he was knocking on their doors, asking them to call a taxi, Manchester Lt. James Komsa said.

Authorities had been searching for Deronde following the Route 70 crash that happened just before 6 p.m. Saturday. Deronde had been driving a silver 2008 Nissan Altima west on the shoulder of Route 70 at high speed on Saturday and ran the red light at Colonial Drive, hitting white 2019 Jeep Cherokee that was driving south on Colonial Drive, Komsa said.

After hitting the Jeep Cherokee, the Altima crossed the centerline and hit a red 2018 Mercedes Benz GLC that was in the eastbound travel lane, Komsa said. After hitting the Mercedes, the Altima continued east until it hit a utility pole and burst into flames, he said.

Deronde ran from the accident scene, Komsa said. His passenger, Fannie Kistner, of Kingston, PA, also ran from the car but was found and was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for treatment of injuries she suffered in the crash, Komsa said.

The driver and passenger of the Mercedes, Richard and Cathy Kulaszewski of Toms River, were not hurt in the crash, he said. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee was identified as Grace Poli of Manchester. Komsa did not report any injuries to Poli.

Deronde was charged with assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury, hindering apprehension and obstruction of justice, Komsa said, and authorities searched for him using a drone, assistance from the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and Lakehurst police.

Deronde eluded authorities until 5:18 p.m. Sunday, when Manchester EMS personnel saw a man fitting Deronde's description near the EMS headquarters, Komsa said. EMS personnel told police they saw him cross Colonial Drive and jump a fence into the Leisure Village West community, he said.

A short time later several Leisure Village West residents called police saying a man who fit Deronde’s description was knocking on their doors and asking them to call a taxi, Komsa said.

Police set up a perimeter that included Huntington Drive, Route 37 west, Colonial Drive and Buckingham Drive and searched, tracking footprints in the snow. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department sent K-9 units "as well as most of their Criminal Investigative Units to the area," Komsa said, and Toms River police sent units to help secure the area. The NJSP Aviation Unit and Manchester drone units were unable to fly Sunday due to the weather conditions, he said.

Authorities soon learned Deronde had gotten a ride from Leisure Village West to Leisure Village East in Lakewood, and Komsa said they tracked Deronde to a home in Leisure Village East, where Komsa said Deronde was living. Manchester Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers, and Lakewood Police responded and arrested him.

Deronde is being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River. He is additionally charged with eluding, Komsa said.

Assisting at the crash scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, volunteer firefighters from Manchester Volunteer Fire Company and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, Jersey Central Power and Light, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Lakehurst Police Department, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit.

Manchester Patrolman Conner Yatauro is investigating the crash.

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