Manasquan Man Injured When Car Veers Into Dump Truck, Police Say

A Manasquan man was hospitalized Monday after his 2013 Honda CRV collided with a 2001 Ford dump truck on Route 547 in Howell, police said.

John Najar, 77, of Manasquan, was northbound on Route 547 and going through a curve when his car went into the opposite lane and hit the truck shortly before 4:15 p.m., Howell Sgt. Joseph Markulic said. Najar had to be extricated by the Squankum Fire Department and was unconscious, Markulic said. What made Najar veer into the oncoming lane is not known, he said.

Walter Smith, 43, of the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey, was driving the dump truck and suffered an injury to his right forearm, Markulic said. Smtih’s passenger, Gregory Potts, 24, of Roebling, complained of leg pain, he said.

Najar was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by the Farmingdale First Aid and medics, Markulic said. His condition was not immediately available.

Route 547 was closed between Birdsall Avenue and Route 524 for six hours while investigators from Howell, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Serious Crash Unit and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Accident Reconstruction Team investigated, he said.

Also responding were MONOC paramedics, Howell First Aid and the Howell Police EMS, Markulic said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Markulic or Howell Patrolman Scott Brooks at 732-938-4111.