A four-vehicle crash at a busy intersection in Manchester Township turned deadly Wednesday afternoon, leaving one man dead and another hospitalized with serious injuries. The collision happened around 3:26 p.m. on February 25, 2026, at the intersection of State Highway 70 and Beckerville Road, according to the Manchester Township Police Department.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found three heavily damaged vehicles along State Highway 70. A black 2014 Lincoln MKX was facing east in the eastbound lane with severe front-end damage. A gray 2016 Nissan Rogue sat on the snow-covered dirt shoulder of the eastbound side, also with extensive front-end damage. A white 2019 Honda Passport was located on the westbound shoulder with damage to its driver’s side rear. A fourth vehicle with minor front damage was initially thought to be involved but was later determined not to have been part of the primary crash.
Investigators say the Honda and the Lincoln were both traveling westbound on Route 70, while the Nissan was traveling eastbound. Police determined that the Honda slowed down to make a right turn onto Beckerville Road. At that moment, the Lincoln struck the rear driver’s side of the Honda. After the initial impact, the Honda came to rest on the westbound shoulder.
The Lincoln, however, crossed over the centerline after the first collision and crashed head-on into the eastbound Nissan. The force of the crash caused the Lincoln to spin approximately 180 degrees before coming to rest facing east in the eastbound travel lane. The Nissan was pushed backward and ended up on the snow-covered shoulder facing east.
The driver of the Lincoln, 65-year-old Lisandro V. Morales of Manchester, suffered severe internal injuries. He was transported to Community Medical Center, where he later died. The driver of the Nissan, 37-year-old Joseph Rodaligo of Jackson, sustained internal and neck injuries and was also taken to the hospital. The Honda’s driver, 33-year-old Jociane Costa De Souza of Delanco, and her 4-year-old passenger were not injured.
The roadway remained closed for several hours as emergency crews cleared the wreckage and investigators examined the scene. Assisting agencies included local fire departments, paramedics, the New Jersey Department of Transportation Diversion Team, and a towing service. The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Conner Yatauro of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit. Authorities say following too closely appears to be the primary contributing factor.
