One-car crash injures four teens in Manchester

Four teens are hospitalized, two in critical condition and two in stable condition, following a one-car crash on Route 37 in Manchester Sunday afternoon, according to Township police. 

The 17-year-old driver lost control and struck a tree near East Main Street around 3:30 p.m., authorities said. Police said three of the teens did not appear to be wearing seat belts.  

All four are at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, according to Manchester Captain Todd Malland.

Kyle J. Nickerson, 18, of Jackson and a 16-year-old back seat passenger were in critical condition. Matthew Olido, 19, of Manchester and the 17-year-old driver were in stable condition. Police are not releasing the driver's name because he is a minor.

Authorities said the driver was wearing a seat belt and suffered back, neck, chest and leg injuries. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Nickerson suffered significant head trauma and was flown to the hospital by South Star medevac. He had to be cut from the car by members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company.

The 16-year-old sitting behind the driver also suffered serious internal injuries and was airlifted to the hospital by Penn Star medevac.

Olido, who was in the back seat on the passenger side, suffered internal and leg injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

The accident closed the right lane of Route 37 for several hours.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, the Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid Squad, Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC, and crews from South Star and Penn Star Medevac. Also assisting were detectives from both the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Support Team.

Patrolman Ian Bole of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Section and Detective Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office are investigating.