Manchester teen critical after crash into tree

MANCHESTER A 17-year-old township girl was seriously injured after she crashed a car into a tree on Route 530 Friday night, police said.

Police suspect the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle may have fallen asleep while driving and ultimately crashed into the tree on Route 530, near St. John Place, in the Whiting section of the township, police Capt. Todd Malland said in a news release.

The crash occurred about 10:52 p.m., he said.

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An investigation revealed that the 17-year-old Manchester girl, whose name was not released, was driving the 2006 Nissan Altima westbound on Route 530 when the vehicle began to drift over the center line into the oncoming lane of travel, the news release said. The vehicle continued onto the eastbound shoulder, left the roadway and struck a tree, the release said.

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The driver was flown by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where she was listed in critical condition on Saturday, the news release said.

The driver was wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred, the release said.

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First aid squad members from Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC and firefighters from the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department responded to the accident. The crash is being investigated by Patrolman Michael Anderson of the township police department’s traffic safety unit.

Kathleen Hopkins: 732-643-4202; Khopkins@app.com