Woman Hit By Mail Truck In Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Whiting woman was injured Friday afternoon when a U.S. Postal Service mail truck backed up over her as she retrieved mail from her mailbox, police said.

Manchester police were called to Ardmore Street and Sunset Road in Crestwood Village shortly before 4:30 p.m. Friday for a report of a pedestrian struck, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Upon arrival, officers learned that Helen Melendez, 80, had been struck by a U.S. Postal Service truck, Malland said. The initial investigation revealed that the postal truck had just dropped mail off at a mailbox on Ardmore Street and was beginning to pull away when it backed up unexpectedly and struck Melendez, who had gone to her mailbox to retrieve her mail, he said.

The impact knocked Melendez to the ground, and she sustained an injury to her leg and head, Malland said. Melendez was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River by members of Quality Medical Transport for treatment of her injuries.

Assisting at the scene were EMTs from Quality Medical Transport and paramedics from MONOC. The road was closed for about 45 minutes while officers conducted the investigation, Malland said. Patrolman Michael O’Hara of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit is investigating.

Photo via Manchester Township Police