A view of the Count Basie Field grandstand.
A Red Bank man remained hospitalized in critical condition with head injuries Monday, two days after police say he jumped off the side of the Count Basie Field grandstand.
Manuel Trejo-Martinez, 24, was discovered alone and unconscious shortly before 5p on Saturday by an exercise walker. Members of the Red Bank Volunteer First Aid Squad responded and found him lying a few feet away from a high-jump mat that had been pushed up against the end of the bleachers.
An investigation led police to some members of a group of young adults who had been with Trejo-Martinez at the time he was hurt, McCarthy said. They told police they had been taking turns jumping off the side of the grandstand almost from the highest point onto the mat when, on one of his jumps, the victim missed the mat.
Police estimate he fell 20 feet.
“He had very, very serious injuries,” said police spokesman Capt. Steve McCarthy. “He landed on the pavement and struck his head.”
Trejo-Martinez’s companions told police they fled because they were fearful of cooperating with the authorities, McCarthy said.
Police found no evidence of criminal activity, though McCarthy said he did not yet know from medical authorities if drugs or alcohol were involved.
The first aid squade transported Trejo-Martinez to the trauma center at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, where he remained in intensive care but showed some signs of improvement Monday, McCarthy said.