Notorious and deadly jersey shore flooded open pit mine claims another life

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A Brooklyn man was killed Saturday in a dirt bike crash at the Heritage Minerals, or ASARCO, site, authorities said.

Police responded to the private property at approximately 11:56 a.m. on March 15, where they found a blue 2024 Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike on the ground and the rider, 28-year-old Joseph W. Maffia, unresponsive. Other riders at the scene had already begun life-saving measures.

Investigators determined that Maffia was riding on the property when he encountered a steep, ten-foot drop at the crest of a hill. He was ejected from his bike and collided face-first with a sand embankment. Despite wearing a DOT-approved helmet, he suffered severe injuries and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead.

Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including Manchester EMS, Robert Wood Johnson paramedics, and local fire departments, assisted at the scene. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit also responded.

Photo: notorious and deadly jersey shore flooded open pit mine claims another life

Manchester police identified unsafe dirt bike operation on private property as the primary factor in the crash. The investigation, led by Ptl. Brendan Brush of the Traffic Safety Unit, remains ongoing.

Authorities reiterated that the ASARCO site is private property and off-limits to recreational activities. Trespassers face significant fines and potential incarceration for unauthorized entry.

Each year, multiple people are killed at the site from either drowning in the unfamiliar water or in offroad crashes.

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