EMERGENCIES

Manchester man, 75, dies in crash after possibly suffering medical episode

Andrew J. Goudsward
Asbury Park Press

MANCHESTER - A 75-year-old township man was killed in a two-car crash on Lacey Road on Wednesday morning, possibly after suffering a medical episode, police said.

Joseph Delorenzo, who lived in the Whiting section of town, died after the 2017 Hyundai Sonata he was driving collided with a 2005 Ford Econoline van about 8:44 a.m, according to a news release from Manchester police Capt, Todd Malland.

Delorenzo was traveling west on Lacey Road near Manchester Boulevard when the Hyundai veered over the center line and collided with the Ford in the eastbound lane of the roadway, according to police.

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A 2017 Hyundai Sonata was heavily damaged in a crash that killed the driver of the vehicle.

Police arrived on scene to find both vehicles sitting in the roadway with driver's side damage.

Delorenzo was unresponsive inside his vehicle. Officers attempted "life saving measures" until emergency medical crews arrived and took him to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, Malland said.

The driver of the Ford — 43-year-old Christian Lecomte Jr. of Browns Mills — sustained minor injuries in the crash and declined medical attention, police said.

"The investigation is pending, however, the preliminary investigation indicates that Delorenzo may have suffered a medical episode prior to the collision," according to the news release.

Emergency medical crews from Quality Medical Transport, Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corp and the Whiting Volunteer First Aid Squad all assisted at the scene. Patrolman Ian Bole of the department's Traffic Safety Unit is investigating.

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