A head-on collission on Rt. 70 in Manchester Township Wednesday afternoon left one man dead and another seriously injured, authorities said.

At approximately 3:25 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of State Highway 70 and Beckerville Road for a reported crash.

Upon arrival, officers observed a black 2014 Lincoln MKX with extensive front-end damage facing east in the eastbound lane, a gray 2016 Nissan Rogue with heavy front-end damage on the snow-covered shoulder, and a white 2019 Honda Passport on the westbound shoulder with damage to its driver’s side rear.

An investigation determined that both the Honda and Lincoln were traveling westbound on Route 70, while the Nissan was traveling eastbound. As the Honda slowed to make a right turn onto Beckerville Road, it was struck from behind by the Lincoln. Following the initial impact, the Lincoln crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the oncoming Nissan. The force of the crash caused the Lincoln to rotate approximately 180 degrees before coming to rest in the eastbound lane. The Nissan was pushed backward onto the shoulder. A fourth vehicle sustained minor damage but was not involved in the initial collision.

The driver of the Lincoln, 65-year-old Lisandro V. Morales of Manchester, sustained severe internal injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center, where he later died. The driver of the Nissan, 37-year-old Joseph Rodaligo of Jackson, suffered multiple internal and neck injuries and was also transported to Community Medical Center. The driver of the Honda, 33-year-old Jociane Costa De Souza of Delanco, along with a 4-year-old passenger, were not injured.

The roadway remained closed for several hours as emergency crews worked at the scene. Assisting agencies included the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Robert Wood Johnson paramedics, the New Jersey Department of Transportation Diversion Team, and Priced Rite Towing.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities said that following too closely appears to be the primary contributing factor.