Woman, 92, Airlifted As Manchester Crash Sends 4 To Hospitals

MANCHESTER, NJ — Four people, including a 5-year-old girl, were injured in a crash on Commonwealth Boulevard when one driver ran a stop sign, Manchester police said.

Loretta Sueiro, 92, of Manchester, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with serious injuries, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Barbara Duffield, 66, of Manchester, Michael Moody, 42, of Toms River, and Moody's 5-year-old passenger all were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River. Duffield and Moody had injuries that were not considered life-threatening, he said. The 5-year-old girl was evaluated at the hospital and discharged, Malland said.

Moody was driving a blue 2012 Nissan Armada west on Commonwealth Boulevard about 4:30 p.m. when it was hit by a black 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Duffield. Duffield was headed north on Northhampton Boulevard and ran the stop sign and flashing red traffic signal, hitting the Nissan, Malland said.

The force of the impact caused both vehicles to spin and they ended up on the front lawn of a Commonwealth Boulevard home.

Sueiro, who was the front-seat passenger in Duffield's vehicle had to be extricated, Malland said. She was entrapped in the vehicle due to the damage and was thrown to the floor because she was not wearing her seatbelt. Firefighters from the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire departments performed the extrication.

The intersection was closed and traffic was diverted for several hours following the crash.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as medical personnel from Holiday City EMS, Quality Medical Transport, MONOC, Toms River EMS, and Hackensack Air 2.

Malland said the investigation was continuing but driver error appears to be a contributing factor. Patrolman Jesse Hoydis of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit is investigating.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Manchester Patch on Facebook.