Spring Lake Heights Man, 86, Killed In Route 18 Crash: Officials

NEPTUNE, NJ — An 86-year-old Spring Lake Heights man has been identified as the person who died as a result of a motor vehicle crash on Route 18 last week, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Monday.

Malcolm Ryder, 86, of Spring Lake Heights died Thursday following the crash in Neptune that happened about 2:30 p.m., Gramiccioni said.

Ryder was the front-seat passenger in a 2005 Honda Accord driven by Gladys Strong, 47, of Brick Township, he said. Strong was driving north in the right lane of Route 18 last Thursday, when the Accord collided with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 17-year-old Avon-by-the-Sea woman, as that driver was attempting to merge onto Route 18 northbound from Route 33, he said.

Ryder was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:22 p.m., Gramiccioni said. Strong was admitted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and treated for moderate injuries. The 17-year-old driver was uninjured, he said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), and Neptune Township Police Department.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information to assist the investigative team is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Kristian DeVito at 800-533-7443 or Neptune Township Police Officer Jason Rademacher at 732-988-8000 ext. 765.

Neptune Township police photo