Woman, 70, Dies From Injuries Suffered In Manchester Crash; Dog Euthanized

A 70-year-old woman died Monday after her car crashed into a utility pole on Route 539 in Manchester, police said.

Karen Olsen of Allentown, N.J., a passenger in the vehicle driven by her husband, died after she was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for severe head trauma, and then airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

Olsen, who was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore, had been properly restrained and had to be extricated from the vehicle, police said.

The driver, 70-year-old Robert S. Olsen of Allentown, was extricated from the vehicle and airlifted to Jersey Shore for chest injuries. He was listed in stable condition Monday afternoon, police said.

The Olsen's dog was also traveling with them at the time of the collision and suffered severe injuries to its back and legs, police said.

The dog was transported by the Manchester Animal Control to the Ocean County Veterinarian where it was euthanized due to the extent of its injuries, police said.

At approximately 10:58 a.m., the Olsen's silver 2012 Jeep Liberty was traveling on Route 539 northbound when it left the roadway, striking a utility pole and overturning before striking a tree in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard, located in the Whiting Section of the township.

Assisting at the scene were the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, paramedics from MONOC, Quality Medical Transport, the Ocean County Criminalistic Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Ian Bole and Patrolman Doug Higgins from the Manchester Township Traffic Safety Section.

Due to the necessary replacement of the utility pole, the northbound lane on Route 539 will remain closed, detouring traffic for approximately two hours Monday evening.