Manchester Man Charged With Death By Auto In 2016 Head-on Crash: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Whiting resident has been charged with death by auto in Route 530 crash that killed another Whiting man in March 2016, according to Manchester police.

Fred E. Wood Jr., 70, was arrested May 25 at police headquarteron the charge by Manchester Sgt. Antonio Ellis, according to Manchester Township's police blotter. He was processed and taken to the Ocean County Jail but later released, according to the blotter and inmate records online.

About 4:30 p.m. on March 17, 2016, Wood was westbound on Route 530 in a blue 2006 Lexus GS when he crossed the double yellow center line and hit a light blue 2016 Ford Escape driven by Thomas Kubes, 71, of Whting, head-on, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said at the time.

Kubes died at the scene of the crash, which happened near the intersection of Route 530 and Lacey Road, Malland said. Wood suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was flown by medevac to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Malland said.

The force of the crash left the Lexus facing east in the eastbound lanes of Route 530, and the Escape ended up facing north on the eastbound berm of the road, he said.

Details on what prompted the death by auto charge were not immediately available.

Photo via Manchester Township police