Two elderly drivers were hospitalized Friday morning after they were involved in a head-on crash on Route 530 in Manchester.
MANCHESTER - Two elderly drivers were hospitalized Friday morning after they were involved in a head-on crash on County Route 530.
At approximately 9:18 a.m., a 2015 Hyundai Elantra was traveling westbound on County Route 530 when it crossed over the centerline of the roadway, between Congasia Road and America's Keswick, and into the eastbound lane where it impacted a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, police said.
Two elderly drivers were hospitalized Friday morning after they were involved in a head-on crash on County Route 530. (Manchester Township Police Department) The driver of the Elantra - identified as Alma Brekke, 79, of Whiting - had just left the dog park at Robert J. Miller Air Park in Berkeley Township, police said.
The Santa Fe was being operated by Joseph Dufault, 78, also of Whiting, police said.
Both drivers were reportedly wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Whiting First Aid and a Northeast Metro Ambulance transported Brekke and Dufault transported Robert Miller Air Park, and they were subsequently flown to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune by MONOC-1 and NJSP Southstar-1 helicopters for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
Brekke's dog, which was in the vehicle at the time of the crash, was removed by Manchester Township Animal Control Officer Margaret Dellapietro and transported to the Ocean County Animal Shelter for safekeeping.
Manchester police Lt. Vincent Manco said Friday evening that police did not know if the dog sustained any injuries in the crash.
Paramedics from MONOC, Whiting Fire Department, Ocean County Road Department, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Sherriff's Department CSI unit assisted at the scene.
The crash was being investigated by Manchester Township patrolmen Paul Bachovchin and Thomas O'Hare as of Friday evening.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.