Posted by
1 min read
September 25, 2017

by Ralph Stocco, TRPD

TOMS RIVER-On Saturday, September 23rd at 7:20 pm police and medical units were dispatched to Whittier Avenue and Longfellow Avenue for a pedestrian that was struck by a motor vehicle.

Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Franklin of Toms River was driving a 1995 BMW westbound on Whittier Avenue.  Toms River resident Joseph Bartolotta, who was walking in the area, was struck by the BMW. Mr. Bartolotta, age 81, had just left his residence on Longfellow Avenue to walk his Jack Russell Terrier.  He was presumably crossing the intersection southbound on Longfellow Avenue when he was struck.  Mr. Bartolotta was taken to an area hospital by medevac helicopter where he died overnight as a result of his injuries. His dog was also injured and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. The condition of the dog is not known at this time.

The crash is being investigated by Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officer Adam Keoppen as well as members of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.  The incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss