73-Year-Old Woman Injured in Route 539 Overturn Crash Near Whiting

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 73-year-old Whiting woman was airlifted to a regional trauma center Wednesday evening after her vehicle overturned along Route 539 in Manchester Township, authorities said.

According to the Manchester Township Police Department, officers responded to the area of Ocean County Route 539 and New Mexico Drive at approximately 5:45 p.m. on October 28 for a report of a serious single-vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a heavily damaged 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross resting on its side.

Police said the preliminary investigation determined the vehicle was traveling southbound on Route 539 when it left the roadway to the right, struck a utility pole and a wooden fence, and then overturned. The impact caused significant damage to the SUV and left the driver trapped inside the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Cathy Stone, 73, of Whiting. Emergency crews worked to extricate Stone from the wreckage before she was transported by Medevac helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Authorities said Stone suffered numerous injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was reported to be in stable condition.

A large emergency response was mobilized to the scene, including Manchester Township EMS, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, members of the Whiting Fire Company, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department, Forked River Fire Department, and Accurate Towing.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police said failure to maintain lane is currently believed to be the primary contributing factor.

The investigation is being conducted by Patrolman Keith Douglas and Patrolman Brenden Brush of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit.

Anyone seeking updates can visit the Manchester Township Police Department’s Facebook page.