Crime & Safety

Fatal Lakehurst Crash of May 13 Claims A Second Victim

Robert Vallee, 41, of Manchester has died after suffering critical injuries in the crash

A fatal Lakehurst crash in which a 17-year-old high school baseball player died has now claimed another life.

Robert Vallee, 41, of Manchester, died on Sunday morning in the hospital due to injuries sustained in the May 13 crash on Route 37, authorities confirmed.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office on Sunday morning reported that Vallee has died. He was admitted to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune with critical injuries after his Ford Escape and a Lincoln driven by Alex Daniele, 17, of Jackson, at 8:45 p.m. on May 13.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

James Volpe, 17, of Jackson, the back seat passenger in a Lincoln, was killed in the crash which split the vehicle in two upon impact. 

According to initial reports, police said Volpe was thrown from the auto on impact. He was found to be in cardiac arrest, according to police at the scene.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Volpe was a member of the Jackson Memorial High School baseball team.

Christopher Russo, 17, of Jackson, was sitting in the passenger seat of the Lincoln. He and Daniele were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River with minor injuries, police reported. They were treated at the hospital and released on May 14. 

Russo and Daniele also are members of the Jackson Memorial baseball team, which defeated Manchester, 13-1, on Saturday in the Shore Conference Tournament.  Volpe was honored by his teammates in many ways on Saturday, the first game they have played since the fatal accident.

Daniele asked to pitch on Saturday and was the winning pitcher in front of Volpe's family.

Mohel said that the autopsy of Volpe was completed on May 15 at Community Medical Center and that the manner of death was determined to be accidental resulting from multiple injuries.

Mohel said that the investigation remains ongoing and officials are awaiting the results of blood testing and an accident reconstruction. Results should be available in about a week or two, he said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.