Toms River Woman Flown To Trauma Center, Another Injured In Route 571 Crash

Two Toms River women were injured, with one taken to a trauma center, after a two-vehicle crash that closed the intersection of Route 571 and Commonwealth Boulevard Thursday evening, Manchester Township police said.

Michelle Biggin, 49, of Toms River, was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, with injuries that were serious but not believed to be life-threatening, said Manchester Capt. Todd Malland.

Valerie Weir, 67, of Toms River, was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for complaints of neck and head pain, he said.

The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m., Malland said. A preliminary investigation by Manchester Township officers determined that Weir, who was northbound on Route 571 in a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck, tried to turn left onto Commonwealth Boulevard and collided with a 1998 Toyota Camry driven by Biggin, who was southbound on 571, Malland said.

Biggin’s current condition was not known Friday morning, he said.

Both involved vehicles had air bag deployment and it appears that both drivers were wearing their safety belts, he said.

Traffic was detoured in the area while officers conducted their investigation. Assisting at the scene were paramedics from MONOC, squad members from Quality Medical Transport and Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid as well as fire personnel from Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer fire companies, he said.

The crash is being investigated by Patrolman Antonio Ellis of the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Unit.