Minivan flips on way home to New York

MANALAPAN - The combination of speed and a highway left slick by an earlier rain is believed to be responsible for a minivan overturning on Route 9 north late in the evening of May 17.

The accident occurred about a quartermile north of the Gordons Corner Road overpass, according to Manalapan police Lt. Lloyd Drucker. He said the accident that occurred at 11:48 p.m. is believed to be the result of the vehicle's unsafe speed on a slick road.

According to Drucker, the 2008 Chrysler Aspen was carrying nine people when driver Richard Salmon, 18, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., lost control of the vehicle. Drucker said neither alcohol nor drugs were believed to be a factor in the accident.

According to a police press release, "The vehicle slid from the right shoulder area, flipped onto the driver's side, then collided with the curbed center median where it was launched back onto its tires. The vehicle was still unstable and began to slide on the median and eventually rolled onto its passenger side. The vehicle came to rest facing east on the center median."

Drucker said police estimate the minivan slid about 60 feet before flipping. He said unsafe speed may be what caused Salmon to lose control of the vehicle. No traffic summonses were issued to Salmon at the time of the accident.

All nine occupants of the minivan were out of the vehicle when police arrived at the scene of the accident.

In addition to Manalapan police, the Gordons Corner Fire Company, the Englishtown Manalapan First Aid Squad, the Marlboro FirstAid Squad andMarlboro police responded to the scene.

Drucker said seven people were transported to area hospitals: five individuals were taken to CentraStateMedical Center, Freehold Township, and two individuals were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune.

Manalapan police Sgt. Edward Niesz was one of the responding officers at the scene and was able to supply additional details.

According to Niesz, the people in the minivan were friends who were heading back to New York after a day at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson. The vehicle had been rented in New York.

Niesz said the five people who were transported to CentraStateMedical Center were taken there because their injuries were not thought to be serious.

He said the two people who were transported to Jersey Shore were sisters. Niesz said one girl was determined to have injuries that needed treatment at a trauma center. The other girl, who was less seriously injured, asked to be allowed to accompany her sister to Jersey Shore and was permitted to do so.

The remaining two people who were not injured accompanied their friends to CentraState and were later picked up by friends or family members, Niesz said.

Niesz said summonsesmay be issued to the driver after an investigation of the accident has been completed.

The minivan was towed from the scene byWesternMonmouth Tow ofManalapan.

No update was available on May 19 on the condition of the girl who required treatment in the Jersey Shore trauma center.

- Kathy Baratta