Couple Dies After Vehicle Overturns into Atsion Lake on Monday Evening
SHAMONG, NJ, (September 01, 2025) - A tragic Monday night crash in Shamong Township claimed the lives of two people.
John and Theresa Hawley tragically died Monday night in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 206 and Quaker Bridge Road in Shamong Township.
New Jersey State Police reported that just before 8 p.m., a Toyota traveling westbound on Quaker Bridge Road collided with a southbound Ford F-350 pickup on U.S. Route 206. The impact caused the Toyota to overturn and plunge into Atsion Lake.
The driver, 66-year-old John E. Hawley, and passenger, 66-year-old Theresa Hawley, both of Marlton, died from their injuries. The 21-year-old pickup driver sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Victims like the Hawleys are killed in motor vehicle accidents across our country, and it is often not their fault.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 695 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in the state of New Jersey in 2024, an increase of approximately 14.7 percent from the previous year.
While the cause and liability of the crash are being investigated, Andrew G. Finkelstein, Managing Partner at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices, said it is important that a competent attorney handles investigations into cases such as this to protect the rights of the victim's family.
"It is essential to reconstruct the accident to identify all the vehicles involved and determine the circumstances that led to the accident or the driver at fault."
"Insurance companies are never on the side of a victim injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident,” said Finkelstein.
“According to the Insurance Research Institute, on average, an injured person who receives help from a lawyer ends up receiving three and a half times more money than those who do not."
Well-known lawyers like Finkelstein are experienced in such aspects and can help protect your rights by guiding you through every step of the process.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of John and Theresa Hawley may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims can seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this.
“People who get into an auto accident suffer unimaginable consequences in the form of mental and physical pain, and, in cases of fatalities, the victim's family and loved ones are left devastated,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
“It is always recommended that, as a victim or family member, you avoid giving statements to an insurance company immediately after a crash. You might be in shock, and anything said at the time could affect your chances of obtaining justice. Hiring an attorney is the best way to protect your rights,” Bond added.
If you or a loved one were involved in an incident like the one in this article and wish to speak with our national legal analyst Andrew G. Finkelstein at no cost, please use the contact details provided on this page.
(Andrew G. Finkelstein, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices to help you, please call 855-976-8163 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).