One Dead, Two Critical In Manchester Crash

A grisly overnight car crash in Manchester leaves a township 60-year-old dead and two victims in critical condition.

Police say Edward Strungis was not belted in when his 2001 Lexus veered from the westbound lanes of Route 70 into oncoming traffic near Leisure Village West just after 1:00 AM. The car rammed head-on into a 2000 Nissan driven by Sylvia Panza, 77, of Manchester.

Strungis was pronounced dead at the scene. Panza and her passenger, Lemig B. Valdemara, 71, of Indialantic, Florida, were extricated and flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Police say both used seat restraints. Panza sustained severe leg and chest trauma.

Manchester Township and Ridgeway volunteer firefighters assisted police along with paramedics from MONOC and Quality Medical Transport, and Manchester Volunteer First-Aiders. Investigations were conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey Department of Transportation Diversionary Team. Manchester Police Officers Ian Bole and Antonio Ellis are continuing the probe.