NEWARK, NJ — A deadly weekend in New Jersey brought separate crashes in Old Bridge, Mays Landing and Cresskill, along with a death at Macy’s Balloonfest outside MetLife Stadium and a chaotic scene at Meadowlands Racetrack. The incidents were reported across several North Jersey and South Jersey communities, leaving families, police and event organizers dealing with separate emergencies over the span of Friday through Sunday.
In the most serious highway crash, two Pennsylvania residents were killed in Old Bridge when a two-vehicle collision happened on Route 9 South near the Grand Marquis Banquet Hall shortly after midnight Saturday. Other incidents included a fatal early-morning crash in Atlantic County, a pedestrian struck in Bergen County and a racetrack mishap that sent drivers from their sulkies after horses broke loose.
Two Pennsylvania passengers die in Old Bridge Route 9 collision
Police and local reporting said the Old Bridge crash happened around 12 a.m. Saturday when a Lexus SUV struck a Ford SUV on the driver’s side as the Ford was turning left out of the banquet hall area. Anthony Pizzo, 32, and Lindsey Clarke, 33, both of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, were riding in the back seat of the Ford and died in the crash.
Three other people were seriously injured, including both drivers and a front-seat passenger, who were hospitalized after the collision. The details point to a violent impact at a busy stretch of Route 9 South, where left turns and through traffic can create dangerous conditions even late at night. Authorities have not publicly described any charges or additional findings in the case.
Mays Landing driver killed after car leaves Route 40 and hits tree
Another fatal crash was reported early Sunday morning in Mays Landing, where a 23-year-old woman died after her car left Route 40 and hit a tree around 6:18 a.m. News 12 New Jersey reported that Giana Fortson lost control of her vehicle near Strand Avenue and also rear-ended another car before the crash.
Authorities said no one else was injured. The crash shut down Route 40 for about four hours as investigators worked the scene and traffic was diverted around the area. For drivers in the region, the wreck was one of several grim reminders that a single weekend can produce multiple deadly incidents across different roadways and communities.
Cresskill man dies after being struck at Knickerbocker Street and Maple Road
In Bergen County, a 55-year-old Cresskill man was killed Friday evening after a car struck him at Knickerbocker Street and Maple Road. Police said he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not released in the initial account.
The crash adds another fatal incident to a weekend that already included highway deaths elsewhere in the state. Police did not immediately provide details about the vehicle involved, the circumstances of the impact or whether any summonses or charges were expected. For a small community like Cresskill, the loss would have been especially immediate and visible.
Balloonfest attendee dies after medical emergency in MetLife Stadium lot
A separate death was reported Saturday morning at Macy’s Balloonfest in the parking lot at MetLife Stadium. NJ.com reported that the person experienced a medical episode, was treated at the scene and then taken to an area hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Police said the person’s name is being withheld until family members are notified. The annual Balloonfest features test flights of the balloons that will appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, making it a seasonal draw for spectators and parade watchers. Even in a large public gathering focused on celebration, medical emergencies can unfold quickly and require immediate response from on-site and hospital personnel.
Loose horses and fallen drivers interrupt Meadowlands race
Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack, the eighth race took an abrupt turn when a 4-year-old filly took a bad step on a sloppy track. After that, two horses ran loose, a third horse fell and three drivers were thrown from their sulkies, according to the track account reported in local coverage.
The incident highlights how quickly harness racing can change when a horse loses footing on wet ground. While the account did not say that anyone was seriously hurt, the scene was serious enough to stop the race as the loose horses and fallen drivers were dealt with. The racetrack has not described any longer-term impact from the mishap.
A weekend that touched roads, hospitals and sports venues across the state
The weekend’s incidents unfolded in very different settings, but they shared a common result: emergency crews were called out repeatedly across New Jersey. A banquet hall parking lot, a state highway, a neighborhood intersection, a stadium parking lot and a racetrack all became scenes of urgent response within a short window of time.
Patch’s roundup noted that these were among the headlines readers may have missed from the weekend. Taken together, they show how quickly ordinary Saturday and Sunday routines can turn tragic, whether the setting is an early-morning commute, a public event, or a night at the races. In several cases, local investigators and police have not yet released full details, leaving more questions than answers about each incident.
