Two Airlifted, One Hospitalized Following Head-On Collision on Route 539 in Lacey Township

Whitting, NJ - Two motorists were airlifted to regional trauma centers and a third was transported by ground ambulance Sunday night following a serious head-on collision involving two vehicles along Route 539.

At approximately 8:50 p.m. on September 13, emergency dispatchers alerted Station 33 (Whiting Volunteer Fire Company) and Station 60 (Forked River Fire Department) to the vicinity of Mile Marker 16 on Route 539 in Lacey Township following reports of a severe motor vehicle crash.

Chief 3300 and Deputy Chief 3310 arrived on the scene to confirm a high-impact, two-vehicle head-on collision with three occupants sustaining significant injuries. Command staff from Station 60, including Chief 6000 and Chief 6020, integrated into unified command operations alongside Whiting leadership.

Firefighters aboard Rescue 3303 and Engine 3301 immediately secured both heavily damaged vehicles, mitigated battery and flammable fluid hazards, and assisted emergency medical technicians from Lacey EMS and Manchester EMS with triage and intensive patient care. Utility 3317 responded with supplemental manpower to assist with field operations, while Fire Police units 3327 and 3337 established traffic closures to protect responders working in the roadway.

Due to the severity of the trauma, incident commanders requested immediate aeromedical evacuation for two patients, summoning RWJBH LifeFlight and the New Jersey State Police Southstar medical helicopters. Crew members from Engine 6011, commanded by Chief 6020, established and secured an illuminated landing zone nearby, with Engine 3301 assisting after clearing the primary crash scene.

Both medevac aircraft landed safely, accepted the critically injured patients, and flew them to regional trauma centers. The third patient was transported emergently by ground ambulance to a local hospital.

Following patient evacuations and hazard mitigation, the roadway was turned over to the Lacey Township Police Department to conduct a comprehensive crash reconstruction and cause investigation.