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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

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.