Nj state police at traffic crash near exit 22
NJ State Police at Traffic Crash Near Exit 22

Wrong-Way Driver Killed, Four Injured in I-195 Crash in Jackson Township

State Police said William H. Wright, 73, of Brick, was driving a Ford SUV westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-195 when the crash happened around 9:01 p.m. Aug. 26 near Exit 22.
Posted by
1 min read
August 30, 2026

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A wrong-way driver was killed and four other people were injured Wednesday night in a three-vehicle Interstate 195 crash in Jackson Township, according to New Jersey State Police.

State Police said William H. Wright, 73, of Brick, was driving a Ford SUV westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-195 when the crash happened around 9:01 p.m. Aug. 26 near Exit 22.

According to the preliminary investigation, Wright’s SUV struck another Ford SUV and a Toyota SUV. Both Ford vehicles overturned during the wrong-way crash.

Wright suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said.

Four people in the other vehicles suffered minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals. The injured included the driver and two passengers in the second Ford SUV and a passenger in the Toyota.

The Jackson Township crash shut down the eastbound side of the highway for several hours as emergency crews worked at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding how Wright entered the highway traveling in the wrong direction remain under investigation by New Jersey State Police.

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.