Head-On Route 70 Crash Kills Manchester Man, Hurts Toms River Man

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township man was killed Sunday evening and a Toms River man injured in a head-on, two-vehicle crash on Route 70, Manchester police said Monday.

Louis Zuffanti, 59, of Manchester, was killed in the crash that happened shortly after 6 p.m., Manchester Lt. Vincent Manco said. Joaquim Deoliveira, 51, of Toms River, was injured and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment.

Manco said the preliminary investigation found a 2017 Subaru Forester driven by Deoliveira was headed east on Route 70 when it collided head-on with a 2000 Honda Accord driven by Zuffanti. Zuffanti was westbound at the time of the crash, which happened near Green Acres Road.

The Honda crossed the center line into the path of the Subaru, Manco said, and the force of the crash caused the front end of the Honda to separate from the back end.

Zuffanti, who was traveling alone, was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and the car's airbags deployed, but he suffered significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, Manco said.

Deoliveira also was traveling alone, Manco said, and was wearing his seatbelt. Front, side curtain, and knee airbags inside the car deployed and he sustained non-life threatening injuries, Manco said.

Assisting at the scene were detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC, firefighters from both the Ridgeway and Manchester Volunteer Fire Departments, the NJ DOT Diversion Team, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, but at this point, vehicle speed and weather conditions appear to be contributing factors, Manco said.

The road was closed for several hours while officers conducted the investigation.

Sgt. Antonio Ellis of the Manchester police department’s Traffic Safety Unit and Patrolmen Michael O’Hara and Michael Anderson are investigating.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Manchester Patch on Facebook.