New Jersey
The deadliest hour, day, and month on New Jersey's roads
đ State officials have released fatal-crash statistics for the year 2022
đ Driver inattention is a top contributing factor
đ The numbers look more promising for 2023
Nearly 690 lives lost should never be seen as good news.
But the number of fatal crashes and road fatalities did decrease in 2022, according to statistics released in late 2023 by the New Jersey State Police.
Over the 12-month period, officials recorded 689 deaths across 646 fatal crashes â a decrease of 21 fatal collisions and eight fatalities from 2021.
“Traffic related deaths continue to remain one of the leading causes of death in New Jersey and throughout the nation,” NJSP said in their latest report. “Through enforcement and education of the motoring public, we will continue to work toward the reduction of motor vehicle fatalities on our roadways.”
The fatality count was as low as 558 in 2019.
Preliminary numbers from 2023 suggest that both the number of fatal crashes and the number of road fatalities will be down significantly from 2022. As of early Friday, 573 fatal crashes had taken 604 lives, according to NJSP.
Causes of NJ road fatalities
In 206 of the crashes, driving while intoxicated (alcohol and/or drugs) was listed as a contributing factor. There were 229 people killed as a result of these crashes.
Another top contributing circumstance in 2022’s fatal crashes was driver inattention. It was cited as a factor in 170 fatal collisions.
Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said distractions behind the wheel include eating, grooming, dealing with kids or pets, and perhaps the biggest threat: the use of one’s phone.
“That includes putting your phone on speaker and still holding it. If it still in your hands, that is not hands-free,” Noble said.
Forty-nine of the drivers involved in fatal crashes were driving on a suspended licenses. Another 40 were unlicensed.
Weather conditions were clear for 566 of the crashes.
Fatal crash timing
The month of June recorded the highest number of fatal crashes (67) in New Jersey in 2022. July was one behind with 66 fatal crashes, and May had 65.
Traffic safety advocates refer to the warmer months as the “100 deadly days of summer.” There’s increased traffic, people are driving longer distances for vacations, and there are more younger drivers on the roads.
At 42, the hour of 6 to 6:59 p.m. recorded the highest number of fatal crashes, followed by the 9 p.m. hour.
Saturday was the deadliest day on New Jersey’s roads in 2022, recording 114 of the 646 fatal crashes. Saturday was also the deadliest day in 2021, 2020, and 2019.
The county with the highest number of fatal crashes was Middlesex (64). Burlington was second, with 54 deadly collisions.
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New Jersey
New Jersey mom hits jackpot at casino slots in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY (WABC) — A mom from New Jersey brought home more than flowers for Mother’s Day, raking in a jackpot worth over a hundred thousand dollars at a casino in Atlantic City over the holiday weekend.
Jacqueline B, a mom from Toms River, NJ, placed a $5 bet on a Dragon Link slot machine at Ocean Casino Resort on Saturday.
She hit the jackpot, winning $101,566.53 to be exact.
The jackpot paid out $101,566.
Jacqueline hasn’t yet revealed how she plans to spend her newfound cash.
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New Jersey
Did anyone win Powerball? Winning numbers for May 9, 2026
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Powerball winning numbers are in for the Saturday, May 9 drawing with a jackpot that reached an estimated $47 million ($21.0 million cash option).
The winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing are 15, 41, 46, 47, and 56, with Powerball number 22. The Power Play number is 2.
Did anyone win the Powerball jackpot?
No one won the Powerball jackpot.
When is the next drawing of the Powerball?
The next Powerball drawing is Monday. Drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
How late can you buy a Powerball ticket?
In New Jersey, in-store and online ticket sales are available until 9:59 p.m. on the night of the draw.
What does it cost to play Powerball?
Powerball costs $2 to play. For an additional $1 per play, the Power Play feature can multiply nonjackpot prizes by two, three, four, five or 10 times.
Are you a Powerball winner? Hereâs how to claim your lottery prize
All New Jersey Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.99. For prizes over $599.99, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at New Jersey Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to New Jersey Lottery, Attn: Validations, PO Box 041, Trenton, NJ 08625-0041.
Winners can drop off their claim form and winning ticket in person at the New Jersey Lottery office where a secure drop box is available. Claim forms are also available at the office. Hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Lawrence Park Complex, 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle, Trenton, NJ 08648.
To find a lottery retalier, you can search the NJ lotto website.
What is the Powerball payout?
The complete guide to winnings is:
- Match 5 White Balls + Powerball: Jackpot
- Match 5 White Balls: $1 million
- Match 4 White Balls + Powerball: $50,000
- Match 4 White Balls: $100
- Match 3 White Balls + Powerball: $100
- Match 3 White Balls: $7
- Match 2 White Balls + Powerball: $7
- Match 1 White Ball + Powerball: $4
- Match Powerball: $4
- Match 5 White Balls with Power Play: $2 million
- Match 4 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $200,000
- Match 4 White Balls with Power Play: $400
- Match 3 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $400
- Match 3 White Balls with Power Play: $28
- Match 2 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $28
- Match 1 White Ball + Powerball with Power Play: $16
- Match Powerball with Power Play: $16
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The overall odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 292.2 million.
How do I find the Powerball winning numbers?
Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also lived streamed on Powerball.com. The winning numbers are posted to the Powerball and New Jersey Lottery websites.
New Jersey
NJ ex-fireman âready for warâ when he launched into violent rampage triggered by breakup: prosecutors
A crazed ex-fireman allegedly launched into a violent rampage after his ex-girlfriend dumped him â and was âready for warâ when he drove eight hours intending to kill her family in New Jersey, according to prosecutors.
Brian John Lanzim, 37, was armed with two guns and a bulletproof vest when he headed from Bangor, Maine to South Toms River, after the mother of his two kids broke up with him and filed a temporary restraining order against him, authorities said.
He allegedly wanted to kill off his exâs family to get custody of his kids, according to prosecutors â but his lawyer claimed he was actually trying to die âby suicide by cops,â according to Patch.com.
âHe absolutely fâked up. He fâked up big time,â Lanzimâs good friend, who asked not to be named, told The Post.
The former Toms River firefighter allegedly sent terrifying threats to his ex on April 29 â letting her know he was armed, dangerous and on his way over.
âIf your father is there Iâm going to take him outâ and beat him âpulseless,â he allegedly told the woman, as Ocean County Judge Pamela M. Snyder read aloud in court Friday morning.
âYou donât know crazy yet,â he also allegedly warned his ex during a chilling FaceTime call, NJ.com reported.
The people inside the home he was targeting fled the scene and alerted police long before he arrived, authorities said.
When Lanzim showed up after 9:40 p.m., he allegedly floored his Toyota 4Runner over the lawn in a sick attempt to run over the waiting cops, according to the Ocean County Prosecutorâs Office.
The officers then dove behind a fence and watched as gun-wielding Lanzim pounded on a locked door of the vacant house, prosecutors said.
âBrian, put it down!â one of the Toms River police officers demanded, according to NJ.com.
âNo!â Lanzim resisted, per the body camera footage.
Police then fired at Lanzim, striking him in his hand and pelvis nonfatality. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune before being moved to Ocean County Jail.
Investigators found a loaded rifle and a large amount of ammunition magazines in his car, prosecutors said. He reportedly had a handgun on him when he was shot.
Heâs been charged with three counts of attempted murder, two counts of weapons possession for an unlawful purpose, unlawful use of body armor, burglary, terroristic threats and 22 counts of possession of a large capacity of ammunition magazines.
âHe was ready for war,â Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater said at his detention hearing â warning that if the victims hadnât fled the home and called police before he arrived, he would have committed even more heinous crimes.
Brater went on to claim that Lanzimâs sinister plan was to kill or harm his exâs family so he could get full custody.
But Lanzimâs lawyer Marissa Koerner brazenly argued his alleged violent outburst was caused by a mental breakdown triggered by the breakup. He also has bipolar disorder and was in treatment for it, she said.
ââI fâking lost her, man. Tell her and the boys I love them,’â Lanzim allegedly said, per an affidavit Koerner read aloud.
âHe loves his family,â she argued.
By wearing a bulletproof vest, Lanzim was trying to âforce a kill shot to the headâ during his heated exchange with police, the lawyer told the court.
But Brater shot down these claims â alleging that his targets begged him not to go through with his horrifying plot.
He also allegedly has a track-record of violence â including an instance where he pulled a gun on his ex and said, âIf I canât have you, no one can.â
The judge ordered that Lanzim will remain in custody awaiting trial, according to court records. Heâs due back in court on May 18.
Lanzim was a fireman and EMT in Ocean County for about 18 years before heading to Bangor in September 2025 for a new job.
âHe couldnât find employment in New Jersey,â his close friend claimed. âIâm not sure what was going on, I guess things fell apart up there [in Bangor].â
Lanzimâs friend spoke with him just days before the incident.
âI had messaged him and asked him if he was okay. He said no. I said, âdoes it have to do with the kidâs mother?â And he said yes,â the man said.
âI asked, âyou need me to call you?â and he was like, âIâm okay, Iâm just at Applebeeâs trying to find the bottom of the glass right now.’â
The next time he heard Lanzimâs name was when he made headlines for the alleged horrors.
âI hope that kid [Lanzim] gets the help he needs,â the friend said. âBrian sometimes doesnât act like an adult, and where he is now and where heâs going to be going, he has no choice but to. I would say man up.â
Lanzimâs attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
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