Manchester Police Revive Tow Truck Driver At Crash Site

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township police saved the life of a tow truck driver who collapsed after he responded to remove cars following a crash on Route 571 last week.

John Macchia, 61, of Bayville, a driver for Freedom Towing, was in the process of getting cars loaded for transport from the crash on March 10 when he collapsed, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said.

Manchester Patrolmen Michael Steffen, Kyle Rickvalsky, Brendan Brush, and Julian Meaney saw Macchia was unconscious, not breathing and had no pulse, so they started CPR and used an automated exterior defibrillator before turning care for Macchia over to Manchester Township Emergency Medical Service personnel and RWJ Barnabus paramedics, Manco said.

Macchia was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, and Manco said authorities were notified he is expected to make a full recovery.

The crash happened about 10:40 p.m. on Route 571 at Beacon Street, Manco said.

Caren Mcaleese, 54, of Manchester was driving west on Route 571 in a white Nissan Altima when she tried to turn left onto Beacon Street, Manco said. Mcaleese turned into the path of a silver Hyundai Sonata driven by Stephanie Bellotti, 25, of Manchester, who was headed east on Route 571, he said. The front ends of the cars collided.

Mcaleese suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, and she was treated at the scene and taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, Manco said.

Bellotti was not injured in the crash, he said.

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