MANCHESTER – A serious motor vehicle accident during the late afternoon rush Monday closed a busy stretch of Route 70 in the Whiting section of town and sent three people to local hospitals with injuries.

Manchester Township Police said 28-year-old David Arce of Brick was driving his 2001 Mercedes CK5 eastbound on Route 70 near mile marker 34.5 when he crossed the center line, colliding with a 2010 Mazda 3 driven by 31-year-old Pablo Nunez of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Police Captain Todd Malland, in a press release, explained that the impact caused the Mercedes to spin and roll onto the passenger side before sliding off the roadway and smashing into trees. The Mazda also spun and slid before stopping in the westbound shoulder.

When officers arrived at the scene at around 3:48 p.m., they found the Mercedes on its passenger side against several trees with Arce pinned inside. The Mazda suffered severe front end and driver’s side damage.

Arce was extricated by first responders and airlifted to Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton for serious leg and internal injuries. His condition is currently not known.

Nunez sustained injuries to his arm while his front-seat passenger, 20-year-old Leighanne Brown of Berlin, suffered a head injury. They were taken by ambulance to Lourdes Medical Center in Burlington.

In the back seat of the Mazda was 19-year-old Rachel Goretskie of Browns Mills who was unharmed.

Route 70 near 539 was closed for several hours during the cleanup and investigation.