Man Dies In Dirt Bike Crash At Manchester Heritage Minerals Site

MANCHESTER, NJ — A New York man died Saturday when he was thrown from his dirt bike during a crash at the Heritage Minerals site, Manchester police said.

Joseph W. Maffia, 28, of Brooklyn, suffered severe injuries in the crash that happened shortly before noon Saturday at the privately owned 7,000-acre property off Route 70, Manchester Capt. Albert Vega said.

Investigators determined Maffia was riding a blue 2024 Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike and came to the crest of a hill, which led to a steep, approximately 10-foot drop. Maffia was thrown from the bike and hit a sand embankment face first, Vega said.

Other dirt bike riders found him lying in the sand unresponsive and started life-saving measures, he said.

Maffia was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time of the crash and sustained severe injuries, and was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River by Manchester EMS, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, Vega said.

Assisting at the scene were emergency medical technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Priced Rite Towing.

Patrolman Brendan Brush is investigating.

The Heritage Minerals property, also known as ASARCO, is a former mining site and is closed to the public for any use.

"It is a criminal offense to enter or remain on the property," Manchester police said.

There are "No Trespassing" signs posted at the site, and Manchester police typically increase patrols because of the number of incidents that have happened at the property.

Trespassers are subject to substantial fines and penalties up to and including incarceration for being on the property, police said.