Barnegat, NJ teen seriously injured after being hit by car on Route 72 in Stafford, NJ

A teenager from Barnegat Township is being treated for serious injuries sustained when she was hit by a car while crossing Route 72 in Stafford Township.

Police said that Dale Ritchie, 22, of Manahawkin was driving in a 2012 black Toyota Tacoma and merging onto Route 72 from West Bay Avenue when he struck a 15-year-old girl from Barnegat around 7:10 pm on Wednesday evening.

She was trying to cross Route 72 with some friends at the time coming from the direction of the Holiday Inn. 

Stafford Police said that the 15-year-old girl was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center, and was eventually flown up to Jersey Shore Medical Center after suffering head and lower body injuries.

Her current condition is unknown.

Police are continuing to investigate the accident and said that no charges have been filed at this point.

If you have any information on or about the accident, you're asked to contact Stafford Police Traffic Safety Officer Justin Pascale at (609) 597-1189 extension 8436 or at jpascale@staffordpolice.org.