JACKSON, N.J. — A Toms River husband and wife were killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on Route 571, according to local authorities.
Key Points:
- Randy and Elizabeth Rittenhouse died in a Route 571 crash in Jackson
- The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. near 1192 Toms River Road
- Two other individuals were injured but are expected to recover
Jackson Police Chief Matthew D. Kunz confirmed Friday that 67-year-old Randy Rittenhouse and 61-year-old Elizabeth Rittenhouse were the victims in the fatal accident. The crash occurred just before 4 p.m. on Toms River Road, which is also known as Route 571.
According to preliminary findings, Mr. Rittenhouse was driving a Chevrolet northwest on Route 571 with his wife in the vehicle. The couple collided with another vehicle carrying two people, both of whom sustained injuries but were expected to be released from a local hospital as early as Friday evening. It appears that the other vehicle driven by a Jackson woman, with one child in the car, veered into oncoming traffic.
The area near 1192 Toms River Road was temporarily closed to traffic on Thursday afternoon as emergency responders worked to assist the victims and clear the wreckage. Traffic in Jackson, Lakewood and Toms River was affected from Route 70 to Whitesville Road and other areas as the road serves as a main connection between Interstate 195 and the Toms River area.