Thursday Evening Route 70 Head-On Crash Injures 6

A Thursday night head-on crash along Route 70 injured six and closed a portion of the state highway for more than five hours, police said.

A 1995 Buick Century driven by Charles E. Flickinger, 28, of Bridsboro, Pa., crossed the center line of the roadway near Washington Avenue and collided with a 2010 Ford pickup truck driven by Joseph Lacarrubba, 46, of Point Pleasant, at about 7:23 p.m., according to information released by Manchester police Capt. Lisa Parker.

Also riding in the Buick were Rita Keller, 57, of Manchester, an 18-month-old female, 4-year-old male, and the children's mother, Linda Warbington, 33. All were seated in the rear of the car, and both children were restrained in child seats when the crash occurred, police said.

Flickinger and Keller were transported by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The 4-year-old boy was taken to Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood while Warbington and the 18-month-old girl were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River. All of Fickinger's passengers were later transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Flickinger and the 4-year-old remain in critical condition with broken bones and internal injuries. The other passengers of the Buick were all listed in serious condition with "lacerations, bumps and bruises," police said.

Lacarrubba was transported to Kimball after complaining of pain, according to police.

The crash remains under investigation by Patrolmen Antonio Ellis and Paul Bachovichin of the Traffic Safety Section.

Also responding to the scene were the Manchester Township and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Deparments, Manchester Township First Aid Squad and MONOC paramedics, the State Department of Transportation Diversion Team, the Ocean County Criminalistic Investigation Unit, the Ocean County Fatal Accident Support Team and Quality Medical Transport, police said.