Two Dead In Southern Ocean County Parkway Crash

Photo by Jason Allentoff

LITTLE EGG HARBOR — Police are investigating the cause of a head-on accident on the Garden State Parkway that left two dead and closed the roadway for several hours.

New Jersey State Police said the accident that took place shortly before 9:30 p.m. on October 21 left 50-year-old Michelle L. Ross of Asheville, North Carolina and 32-year-old Cortney L. Downey of Northfield dead at the scene.

The crash was reported in the area of 59.3 on the southbound side of the Parkway but the crash shut down the road in both directions for several hours.

Trooper Charles Marchan said the cars collided head on in the southbound lane. Ross was driving a Mitsubishi Outlander and Downey was driving a Toyota Corolla. The Mitsubishi overturned as a result of the impact, he said.

Traffic had to be diverted for several hours. 

The crash remains under investigation.