Whiting Woman Seriously Hurt In Head-On Route 70 Crash: Police

LAKEHURST, NJ -- Two people were injured Monday evening, one seriously, in a head-on collision about 5 p.m. on Route 70 near Tobias Avenue, Lakehurst police said Tuesday afternoon.

A 73-year-old woman from Whiting suffered significant injuries when the 2000 Toyota Echo she was driving westbound on Route 70 was hit head on by a 2009 Honda Fit driven by a 20-year-old Toms River man, whose car drifted from the eastbound lane into the path of the Toyota, Lakehurst Police Chief Eric Higgins said.

A 43-year-old man from Shamong who was behind the Toyota on a motorcycle was able to take evasive action and only slightly impacted the side of the Toyota, Higgins said. The motorcyclist was not injured.

The Whiting woman was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by ambulance, Higgins said.

The Toms River man was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for treatment of minor injuries, he said.

The accident shut down Route 70 between the Lakehurst Circle and Colonial Drive for approximately 2 hours so the accident could be investigated and cleaned up, he said.

The Lakehurst Police Department was assisted by the Manchester Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Ocean County Sheriff's Department CSI, Manchester Fire Department, MONOC paramedics, NJ DOT, and Quality Medical.

The accident in currently under investigation by Sgt. Matthew Kline and Officer Jason Guide, Higgins said.