The driver whose pickup truck careened off Route 70 in Manchester during Monday afternoon’s rush hour suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel, according to township police.

Pickup crash, Route 70, Manchester, 4-25-16 (Manchester PD)
Pickup crash, Route 70, Manchester, 4-25-16 (Manchester PD)
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Michael Valladares, 57, of Little Egg Harbor, was hospitalized after his 1999 Dodge Dakota veered from the westbound side, across oncoming traffic, into a telephone pole and several trees near Roosevelt City Road at about 5:37 PM, police said.

Valladares traveled alone and wore a seat restraint, and the crash was involved no other vehicles, police said.

He was flown by Medevac helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his condition and for crash-related injuries.

Investigations and removal of the vehicle required a shutdown of the highway in both directions for the better part of two hours.

Members of Quality Medical Transport and the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, along with MONOC paramedics, assisted patrol officers.

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