Whiting Man Dies After Possible Medical Event, Crash: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Whiting man died Saturday during a crash in the parking lot of a shopping center, which police said appeared to be the result of a medical episode.

Thomas Massa, 67, of Whiting, died at the scene of the crash, which happened about 9:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Stop & Shop plaza on Lacey Road in Whiting, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

The crash investigation found Massa had come out of Stop & Shop and got into his car, a red 2013 Chrysler 300. He backed out of his parking space, put the car in drive, and rapidly accelerated through the parking lot, hitting an unoccupied 2009 Kia Sorrento in the process. Massa kept going through the lot, driving over a curbed median and grassy area at 400 Lacey Road, the road and came to rest on the grassy area in front of 401 Lacey Road, Malland said.

Witnesses who observed the collision pulled Massa out of the vehicle after the crash, he said, and investigators learned he had not been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, but he had no significant visible injuries.

"At this time it is believed that a medical event was a contributing factor in the crash and the subsequent death of the driver," Malland said.

Officers and first aiders immediately administered first aid and CPR at the scene, and Massa was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC Paramedics as well as investigators from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation unit. Patrolman Michael O’Hara and Patrolman Michael Anderson are investigating, Malland said.

Photo provided by Manchester Township Police