Dirt bike rider dies in Ocean County, NJ, accident

A dirt bike rider from Brooklyn was killed in an accident in Ocean County late Saturday morning.

The Manchester Township Police Department says their officers were called to the Heritage Minerals / ASARCO property off of Route 70 just before noon.

At the scene, cops found a 2024 Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike on the ground in the sand.

The driver of the bike, 28-year-old Joseph W. Maffia of Brooklyn, NY, had been ejected and was found lying face down, unresponsive, by other dirt bike riders who had started life-saving measures.

Police say their investigation revealed that while Maffia was riding on the private Heritage Minerals property, he encountered the crest of a hill which led to a steep ten-foot drop. As a result, he was ejected from the bike and collided face-first with a sand embankment.

Maffia was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time of the collision and was severely injured. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he died from his injuries.

• JULY 2022: Cops issue 131 summonses at Crystal Lake/ASARCO site

• JUNE 2024: Man drowns swimming across Crystal Lake in Manchester Twp.

Numerous agencies assisted Manchester Township police, including the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services; paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; the Manchester, Ridgeway, and Whiting Volunteer Fire Departments; the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit; and Priced Rite Towing.

ASARCO site is private property

The Manchester Township Police Department reminds the public that the Heritage Minerals / ASARCO site is private property. It is closed for recreational and/or other use and it is a criminal offense to enter or remain on the property. Trespassers are subject to substantial fines and time in prison.