Toms River Pedestrian Hit By Car Saturday Dies Of Injuries: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man who was airlifted Saturday night after he was hit by a car on Whittier Avenue has died, Toms River police said Sunday evening.

Joseph Bartolotta, 81, died of his injuries at a nearby hospital overnight, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

Bartolotta had just left his home on Longfellow Avenue to walk his Jack Russell terrier and was crossing the intersection when he was hit by a 1995 BMW driven by 19-year-old Nicholas Franklin of Toms River, Stocco said.

Franklin was westbound on Whittier at the time of the accident, which happened about 7:20 p.m., Stocco said. Authorities believe Bartolotta was crossing the intersection southbound, he said.

Bartolotta's dog was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment but the dog's condition was not known, he said.

The crash is being investigated by Toms River Police Traffic Safety Officer Adam Keoppen as well as members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. The incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time, Stocco said.

Photo of authorities investigating at the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident courtesy of Paul Williams