5 Hurt As Route 571 Crash Sends Boat Flying: Manchester Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — Five people were treated for minor injuries following a three-vehicle crash that knocked a boat off its trailer on Route 571 on Saturday, Manchester police said.

The crash happened about 12:45 p.m. at the intersection of Route 571 and Commonwealth Boulevard in the Ridgeway section, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Malland said a gray 2011 Chevy Silverado driven by Douglas Smith of Toms River was headed west on Route 571 and had collided with a black 2015 Silverado driven by Edward Liatys Jr. of Yardville, when Smith turned into the path of Liatys's truck.

The crash badly damaged the front end of Smith's truck. Liatys's truck ended up hitting a light pole, and the boat he was trailering flew forward, damaging Liatys's truck and a Jeep Cherokee driven by David McCluskey of Manchester, which was waiting to make a turn at the intersection, Malland said.

Five people in Liatys's truck were treated at Ocean Medical Center in Brick for minor injuries, Malland said.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Emergency Medical Services, and the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department. Manchester Patrolman George Smith is investigating, he said.

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