Long Beach Island Causeway Crash Was a Real Cliffhanger

There are car accidents...and then there's the crash that happened Thursday on the Rt. 72 Causeway Bridge heading into Long Beach Island.

Just before noon Thursday, two Jeeps tangled on the Causeway from Manahawkin to Ship Bottom, LBI, and one of them ended up hanging partially over the jersey barrier, within feet of the west-bound traffic.

Stafford Township Police say a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Mallory Roselli, 35, from New York was slowing down in the traffic headed east on the Causeway Bridge. A Jeep Renegade, driven by Karli Ruff, 19, from Manahawkin, was also traveling east on the Causeway Bridge, and crashed into the rear of Roselli’s Grand Cherokee.

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After striking the rear of the Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Renegade struck the jersey barrier located in the median of the Causeway, resulting in the vehicle resting on top of the barrier. Luckily, this crash certainly looked worse than it was.

Stafford Township Police say that there were no reported injuries, and both vehicles were towed from the scene. Traffic was delayed for approximately 30 minutes.

The driver of the Jeep Renegade was issued a summons for Careless Driving.

The population of Long beach Island swells to nearly 100,000 every summer, as it is a thriving tourist destination. Manahawkin Bay Bridge, the bridge to reach this barrier island, has been reconstructed and is part of a larger construction project.

Construction to build a second bridge began in 2013, and is expected to conclude in 2022. The project itself includes a number of elements such as rehabbing the 60-year-old bridge as well as building the new bridge approximately 10 feet away.