Manchester, NJ : Four teens injured after car crashes into the woods off Route 37 in Manchester on Sunday, Aug 9, 2015

Four teenagers were hospitalized Sunday after the car they were traveling in crashed into the woods off Route 37.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, township police responded to the area of Route 37 and East Main Street for the report of a single-car crash into the woods.

When officers arrived, they determined that a gray, 2011 Kia Soul was traveling east on Route 37 in the area of East Main Street when the operator lost control of the vehicle and ran off the roadway and struck a tree head-on, police said.

The 17-year old-operator, whose identity was withheld due to his age, was properly restrained but was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune by ambulance for treatment of back, neck, chest, and leg injuries, police said.

The front seat passenger –Kyle Nickerson, 18, of Jackson – did not appear to have been wearing his seatbelt and needed to be extricated from the vehicle by members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, police said.

Nickerson suffered significant head trauma and was airlifted by South Star Medevac helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition as of late Sunday night, police said.

The driver's side rear seat passenger, a 16 year old, suffered serious internal injuries and was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by Penn Star Medevac helicopter and was also listed in critical condition Sunday night, police said.

The passenger's side rear seat passenger – Matthew Olido, 19, of Manchester – suffered internal and leg injuries and was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by ambulance where he was listed in stable condition Sunday evening, police said.

Neither rear seat passenger appeared to have been wearing their seatbelts, police said.

The right lane of Route 37 was closed for several hours while emergency responders were treating the injured and investigating the accident

The Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, and the Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid Squad, as well as members of Quality Medical Transport, paramedics from MONOC, and crews from South Star and Penn Star Medevac assisted at the scene.

Detectives from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office's Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Support Team also responded to the scene.

The accident is being investigated by Patrolman Ian Bole of the Manchester Township Police Department Traffic Safety Section and Detective Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Source :

4 teens hospitalized after car crashes into tree in Manchester