Woman Airlifted After 5-Vehicle Route 37 Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — A woman was flown to a trauma center and a toddler and an infant were treated at a hospital following a five-vehicle crash on Route 37 on Monday, Manchester police said.

Ann Smith, 82, of Whiting, suffered multiple cuts as well as head, neck, and back injuries and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune following the crash that was reported at 1:12 p.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

The crash, on Route 37 east at Alexander Avenue, happened when Tara Traendly, 30, of Bayville, who was driving a 2016 Kia Sorrento, failed to see the traffic ahead of her was slowing down and rear-ended the 2002 Mercury Sable that Smith was driving, Malland said. After hitting the Sable, Traendly's Kia sideswiped a 2001 Ford F-250 driven by Peter Degrazio Jr., 58, of Toms River, which was in the right lane next to her.

The force of the Kia hitting the Mercury Sable caused it to jolt forward and hit the rear of a 2016 Nissan Sentra driven by James Reid, 71, of Whiting, who was slowing in traffic, Malland said. The Sentra then rear-ended a 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by Mary Hunter, 37, of Lakehurst, he said.

A 2-year-old and an 8-month-old who were passengers in Traendly's Kia were taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of pain and as a precaution, Malland said.

No other injuries were reported by police.

Route 37 east was closed for until about 4 p.m. and traffic was diverted while the accident was investigated, the injured were tended to and the scene was cleared.

Assisting at the scene were paramedics from MONOC, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, medical personnel from Hackensack Meridian Medevac Helicopter Services, and firefighters from the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department.

Patrolman Ian Bole is investigating.

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