STAFFORD – A 15-year-old girl suffered several injuries after being hit by a car on Route 72 Wednesday night, police said.
The victim was stuck around 7:10 p.m. near the area of West Bay Avenue, Stafford Township Police Department said.
Dale Ritchie, 22, of Manahawkin, was driving a 2012 black Toyota Tacoma and was merging onto Route 72 westbound from West Bay Avenue.
According to police, the 15-year-old girl from Barnegat was trying to cross Route 72 from the Holiday Inn with a group of friends when Ritchie hit her.
She suffered head and lower body injuries and was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center and later had to be flown to Jersey Shore Medical Center. At this time, police have no updates on her condition.
Assisting as the scene were the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Stafford Township First Aid.
Route 72 westbound was limited to one lane of travel for about six hours, and Ritchie’s car was towed from the scene.
The accident is currently under investigation and no charges have been filed.
Anyone with information for this accident is asked to contact Traffic Safety Officer Justin Pascale at 609-597-1189 extension 8436 or at jpascale@staffordpolice.org.
