Motorcyclist Killed, Dirt Biker Seriously Injured In Garden State Parkway Crash (UPDATE)

A 26-year-old motorcyclist was killed and a 49-year-old dirt bike operator was seriously injured in a crash Sunday, Sept. 8 on the Garden State Parkway in Toms River, authorities said.

Antonio Caprara, 26, of Beachwood, was heading south on the right shoulder while Lenny Ritorto, of Toms River, was heading south on the acceleration lane from the Exit 81 entrance ramp when the two collided near milepost 81.7 around 1 p.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said.

Both vehicles overturned and both Caprara and Ritorto were thrown from their bikes, Lebron said. Caprara died while Ritorto suffered serious injuries, the nature of which were unclear as of press time.

While South Toms River police officer named Antonio Caprara was sworn in in 2022, the department could not immediately verify whether or not it was their officer who was killed, saying only that the crash was being investigated by the NJSP.

All lanes of the Parkway were closed following the crash, which remains under investigation.