Two Ocean County residents tragically die in head-on collisions on consecutive days in OC
A head-on collision that occurred in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township on Wednesday and a similar accident on Route 70 in Manchester Township on Thursday claimed another life as investigations continue today.
Stafford Township Police said that Dylan Destefano, 19, of Manahawkin was riding his motorcycle on Wednesday afternoon and veered into the other lane in front of a Dodge Ram van that was heading north on Hilliard Boulevard from East Bay Avenue at the time.
The crash caused fatal injuries to Destefano who was pronounced dead a short time later at Southern Ocean Medical Center.
The Dodge Ram van sustained significant damage but there were no reported injuries for the driver, Max Serrao, 28, of Manahawkin in this crash.
Stafford Police continue investigating this crash and if you have any information that can assist them, you're asked to contact Traffic Safety Officer Giovanni DeMarco 609-597-1189 extension 8456 or email gdemarco@staffordpolice.org.
On Thursday morning in Manchester Township, around 6:46 am, police said that a Nissan Frontier pickup truck driven by Sandra Wade, 61, of Toms River was heading west on Route 70 near mile-marker 34 when she suddenly veered across the centerline and into oncoming traffic.
There was a Freightliner Medium Duty refrigerated box-truck heading in that eastbound direction at the time driven by Joseph Ballard, 35, of Levitttown, Pennsylvania who tried to get out of the way by heading towards the shoulder, but a collision then occurred as the pickup truck crashed into the front of the box truck.
The Nissan sustained extensive damage throughout the entire front end and the roof was torn off, according to police, and the box truck also had extensive damage to the front driver side.
Manchester Police said that Wade succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Ballard sustained minor injuries and declined hospital treatment.
The investigation into this crash continues but Manchester Police said "failure to maintain lane appears to be the primary contributing factor."