Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 15, 2026, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 70 near mile marker 34 for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Subsequent investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit- Vehicular Homicide Squad, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that a 2025 Ford Ranger was traveling eastbound on Route 70 when it attempted to pass another vehicle by entering the westbound lane of travel in an unsafe manner. A 2022 Hyundai Elantra – containing a driver and two passengers – was traveling westbound on Route 70 when the Ford Ranger entered their lane of travel, thereby causing a head-on collision. The occupants of both vehicles were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of their injuries; they are all currently listed in stable condition.
Responding Officers at the scene detected an odor of alcohol from the operator of the Ford Ranger and observed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. As such, in furtherance of the investigation, a court-authorized draw of his blood was taken at the hospital.
This crash remains under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.