Dominic Fenton, 16, of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and Josh Ritsky, 19, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, have been identified by loved ones as the two teens killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury early Sunday, October 11. Authorities have not officially released the victims’ names, but both are named in GoFundMe campaigns set up to support their families.
What Happened
According to Middlesex County Prosecutor Linda Estremera, six people were in an SUV heading south near Exit 8 (Route 133) in Cranbury, on the Turnpike’s southbound outer lanes near mile marker 69.9, just after 5 a.m. A 911 call reporting the crash was received at approximately 5:06 a.m.
Responding officers found the SUV with all six occupants aboard. Fenton and Ritsky were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining four occupants were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries of varying severity.
Estremera has not disclosed the circumstances of the crash or confirmed the identities of those involved, and neither the New Jersey State Police nor the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has released further details. The cause remains under investigation, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4263 or the State Police Cranbury Station Detective Bureau at 609-860-9000, ext. 4424.
Remembering Dominic Fenton
Fenton was a student at Hatboro-Horsham High School. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Stefanie Keenan — whose own son was in the SUV and survived the crash — has raised more than $41,000 toward a $65,000 goal to support Fenton’s family with funeral and memorial expenses.
“Our community is facing an unimaginable tragedy. Six of our boys were involved in a devastating car accident, and heartbreakingly, two of them lost their lives,” the fundraising page states.
According to the page, Fenton loved playing basketball, competing in Xbox games, watching history documentaries, and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. “Dominic was fiercely loyal to his friends, quick-witted, and always ready with a joke or a comment that could put a smile on someone’s face,” the page states.
A viewing for Fenton is scheduled for 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. on October 16 at Saint John Bosco Catholic Church in Hatboro, followed by an 11:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be private. He is survived by his parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family and friends.
The Hatboro-Horsham School District Board of Education held a moment of silence for Fenton at the start of its meeting Monday night. Superintendent Scott Eveslage said the student’s family had given the district permission to share his name with the school community, but he chose not to say it aloud during the meeting given the student’s age. “Our hearts are with his family, friends, classmates, teachers and all who knew and loved him,” Eveslage said.
Remembering Josh Ritsky
A separate GoFundMe campaign, also organized by Keenan, has raised more than $30,000 to help ease financial burdens on Ritsky’s family.
The fundraiser describes Ritsky as a young man whose determination, work ethic and compassion set him apart. “He was the kind of person who always pushed forward, showed up for the people he loved, and left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him,” the page states.
An Ongoing Investigation
Four other young men from the SUV remain hospitalized or recovering from the crash. The investigation into what caused it is active, and no additional details have been released by investigators as of this writing.
