Crime & Safety

Manchester Woman Charged in Weekend Route 70 Crash

Police reported two incidents near Manchester-Toms River border over the weekend

A portion of Route 70 in Toms River — just east of the town's border with Manchester — kept police busy this weekend, as two accidents over two days occurred at the same spot there. Police said both involved impaired drivers.

Toms River Police responded to a head-on collision 2:30 a.m. Sunday at Route 70 and Dover Pines Avenue, when police said Marissa Hennicke, 20, of Manchester, was traveling westbound on the highway in a 2003 BMW and collided with a 2008 Dodge Ram truck that was eastbound operated by Jeaneen Conforte, 44, of Brick.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Conforte took evasive action to avoid the crash, but the BMW kept coming into her lane of travel, resulting in a head-on collision. Hennicke was extricated by Pleasant plains Fire Company and transported to Jersey Shore Hospital, he said.

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Officer Ed Mooney investigated the crash and charged Hennicke with failure to maintain lane and DWI.

Route 70 was closed for about an hour in both directions, Mastronardy said, with traffic police directing traffic.

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On Saturday, an Island Heights woman was hospitalized after a one-vehicle accident on the road near Dover Pines Avenue, Mastronardy said.

Laura Padovano, 24, of Island Heights was charged with careless driving and DWI after an investigation by Officer Robert Westfall. Mastronardy said Padovano was westbound in her 1996 Honda when her vehicle left the road and overturned.  She was extricated by Pleasant Plains Fire Company then transported to Jersey Shore Hospital.


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