life of So. River man, 22
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER — A 22-year-old borough resident died last week as a result of injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike at 1:16 a.m. July 19.
Joseph M. Aschettino died July 23, four days after the accident, due to head trauma caused during the accident, according to police.
A spokesman for the state police said Aschettino was traveling northbound on the N.J. Turnpike near Bordentown, Burlington County, when his vehicle crossed over onto the left shoulder and struck a parked vehicle. The parked vehicle had stopped on the shoulder because it had been involved in a prior accident, police said. The parked vehicle then struck a third vehicle due to the impact of Aschettino’s 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier.
Several other people involved in the accident suffered minor injuries.
After the accident, Aschettino was taken to the Thomas Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia, where he later died.
Aschettino, who was born in New Brunswick, was a lifelong resident of South River. He was a senior communications major at East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, Pa., having graduated from South River High School in 1998.
According to his obituary, provided by Brunswick Memorial Funeral Home, Aschettino played on the baseball team and received varsity letters in both wrestling and football while attending high school. He was also a communicant of Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, James Street.
Aschettino is survived by his parents, Anthony and Ann; and his brothers, Anthony, of South River, and Michael, stationed with the U.S. Navy in Norfolk, Va.
His family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Gift of Life Donor Program, 2000 Hamilton St., Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, Attn: Diane Morton.