Crime & Safety

Route 37 Fatal Crash Claims Another Victim

Manchester resident dies in hospital after May 13 collision

A fatal Lakehurst crash in which a 17 year-old died has now claimed another life.

Robert Vallee, 41, of Manchester, died in the hospital due to injuries sustained in the , authorities confirmed.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office on Sunday morning reported that Vallee has died. He was admitted to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune with critical injuries after his Ford Escape and a Lincoln driven by Alex Daniele, 17, of Jackson, at 8:45 p.m. on May 13.

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, 17, of Jackson, the back seat passenger in a Lincoln, was killed in the crash, which split the vehicle in two upon impact. 

According to initial reports, police said Volpe was thrown from the auto on impact. He was found to be in cardiac arrest, according to police at the scene.

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Volpe was a member of the Jackson Memorial High School baseball team.

Christopher Russo, 17, of Jackson, was sitting in the passenger seat of the Lincoln. He and Daniele were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River with minor injuries, police reported. They were treated at the hospital and released on May 14. 

Russo and Daniele are also members of the Jackson Memorial baseball team, which defeated Manchester, 13-1, on Saturday in the Shore Conference Tournament.  Volpe was honored by his teammates in many ways on Saturday.

Daniele asked to pitch on Saturday and was the winning pitcher in front of Volpe's family.

Mohel said that the autopsy of Volpe was completed on May 15 at Community Medical Center in Toms River and that the manner of death was determined to be accidental resulting from multiple injuries.

Mohel said that the investigation remains ongoing and officials are awaiting the results of blood testing and an accident reconstruction. Results should be available in about a week or two, he said.


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