Manchester Woman Suffers Head Injury In Route 530 Crash: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Whiting woman has been hospitalized with head and neck injuries after her car hit a utility pole on Route 530 and knocked out power in the area on Monday morning, Manchester police said.

Rosalie Pajarilla, 39, of Whiting, was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, with head and shoulder pain and was listed in stable condition Monday afternoon, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Malland said the initial investigation indicates driver fatigue may have contributed to the crash.

Police were called to the area of Route 530 at Pine Ridge Boulevard about 7:40 a.m. for a report of a one-car crash and found Pajarilla's white 2016 Honda CRV along the wood line of Route 530 with arcing live wires suspended just above the vehicle, he said.

Pajarilla was westbound on Route 530 when her car left the road and hit a utility pole, shearing the pole off at the bottom and causing high voltage electrical wires to drop down dangerously close to the vehicle and the ground, Malland said. After hitting the pole, the Honda continued west and hit a tree on the berm of the road, he said.

The car had multiple airbag deployments and Pajarilla, who had to be helped from the car, was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the collision, he said.

Route 530 was closed and power to area homes was interrupted for several hours as emergency workers and utility employees worked to replace to broken pole and clean-up the scene, Malland said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, and utility workers from Jersey Central Power and Light. The accident is under investigation by Manchester Patrolman Ian Bole of the Traffic Safety Unit, he said.

The Manchester Township Police Department would like to remind motorists that tired drivers are similar to intoxicated drivers and to never operate a vehicle without being properly rested.

Photos via Manchester Township Police