Route 70 Crash Leaves Beachwood Woman Critical

A Beachwood woman who attempted to make a U-turn from the shoulder of Route 70 Friday was hit by a van and is in critical condition following the crash, Manchester Township Police said.

Nicole Moyle, 36, was headed east on the highway just after 3:30 p.m. when she pulled to the shoulder to make the U-turn, police said, but was hit by a Chevy Astro van before she could complete it.

Moyle was seriously injured in the crash, police said, and after medical helicopters were grounded due to weather, she was rushed by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, where she remains in critical condition.

The driver of the van, Brian Elias, 38, of Jackson, was also hurt, but his injuries were minor, police said, and he was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment.

Traffic was temporarily detoured as officers investigated the crash, and the accident is still under investigation by Ptl. Douglas Higgins and Ptl. Thomas O’Hare of the Manchester Traffic Safety Unit.

Assisting at the scene were Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, MONOC Paramedics, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigative Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the state Department of Transportation and State Police.