Hit-And-Run Crash Ends With Manchester Man's Arrest

A 49-year-old Manchester man was arrested Friday after he was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run crash in Pine Lake Park, police said.

Edward J Whiteford of Madison Avenue was charged with multiple motor vehicle violations, as well as a criminal charge of tampering with evidence. Whiteford was arrested and released pending court proceedings, police said. 

The 23-year-old female driver of a Toyota was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment and was later released.

Patrolman Antonio Ellis of Manchester’s Bureau of Traffic Safety and a member the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office also assisted with the investigation.

On Friday, at 8:37 a.m., a crash occurred at the intersection of Southampton Boulevard and Madison Avenue in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester, police said.

When Patrolman Thomas O’Hare arrived on scene, only one of the involved vehicles was still there.

According to the 23-year-old driver still on scene, a blue van drove through the stop sign on Madison Avenue and hit the driver’s side of the 2009 Toyota Matrix she was driving. She talk to police after the crash the van drove away.

Officers flooded the area looking for the van involved in the hit-and-run. Based on some evidence left at the scene, officers knew they were looking for an older blue Chevy van, police said. 

Shortly after the crash, Sgt. James Dellane found a vehicle matching the van’s description. The van was parked on Madison Avenue, partially covered by a tarp, police said.

Dellane and Ellis went to the residence in question to ask about the van. The investigation revealed that the van was the vehicle allegedly involved in the hit and run.

Additionally, it was determined that the driver purposely attempted to conceal the van from police. Sgt Dellane and Ptl O’Hare then identified the driver.