SUV Carrying 2 Kids, 3 Adults Flips on Route 547

A 33-year-old man from Queens was airlifted after the SUV he was in flipped on Route 547 Sunday afternoon, according to Manchester Township Police.

The Jeep Cherokee, carrying three adults and two children, landed in a stream after the driver crossed the centerline of the roadway, according to Manchester Township Police.

The accident happened around 2:30 in the Ridgeway Section of town. When officers arrived, there was a silver Jeep Cherokee on its roof in a stream on the northbound side of the road, according to Manchester Township police.

Police said the Jeep was traveling south on Route 547, when it abruptly crossed the centerline, entering into the northbound lane prior to striking the guard rail and rolling over. The vehicle then went down an embankment and landed on its roof in a stream, police said.

The four other people in the car, including the driver and two children, were transported via ambulance for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was partially closed for several hours during the rescue and cleanup.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Dulce Casique, 22, was transported via ambulance to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune for treatment and evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries.

The front seat passenger, Pedro Rivera, 33, suffered a head laceration and was flown to Jersey Shore by helicopter, where he is listed in stable condition, police said.

The rear seat passengers, including a 1-year-old boy, a 7-year-old girl and a 42-year-old female, were also transported via ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The children were released from the hospital Sunday, Manchester Police said. The status of the driver and rear seat passenger are not currently known, police said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, the Ocean County Health Department, the Berkeley Hazmat Unit, as well as members of the Lakehurst and Manchester Volunteer Fire Departments, the Joint Base and Lakehurst Police Departments and representatives from New Jersey Natural Gas.

The investigation into the crash is still ongoing but police believe speed and driver error appear to be contributing factors.

This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Antonio Ellis, Patrolman Michael Lynch and Patrolman Joseph Fastige of the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Unit.

(PHOTO: Manchester Township Police)