Manchester Pedestrian Critical After Being Hit By Car: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township man was listed in critical condition Friday afternoon after he was hit by a car while crossing a street in Leisure Village West on Friday morning, police said.

Leroy Lathrop, 76, of the Whiting section, was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of serious injuries to his head, back, and extremities, Manchester Police Lt. Vincent Manco said. Lathrop was listed in critical condition as of about 5 p.m., Manco said.

Lathrop was hit Friday morning about 10:15 a.m. as he was walking across Buckingham Drive near Thornbury Lane by a white 2010 Kia Optima driven by Patrice Benjamin, 83, of Manchester, Manco said.

Benjamin was headed north on Buckingham Drive when she hit Lathrop, who she didn't see crossing the road, Manco said. The force of the impact threw him onto the hood of the Kia and into its windshield before he landed on the sidewalk, Manco said.

Benjamin was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester First Aid Squad, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC Paramedics, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Patrolman Ian Bole is investigating, Manco said.

Photos via Manchester Township Police