GoFundMe pages have been created for the two teens killed in a horrific car crash on Route 9 in Freehold Township Tuesday night.

The pages identify the victims as John Ryan McCarthy, 15, of Allentown, and Asaivion Whiting, 17 of Manalapan.

They were passengers in the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu whose 17-year-old driver lost control, sending it off the road over a curb and into several concrete-filled posts before rolling over in front of the AAA car care center on the southbound side.

Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Chris Swendeman said that two other passengers and the driver were hospitalized and released.

Asaivion Whiting
Asaivion Whiting (Andrea Beaton via GoFundMe)
loading...

More sadness for the Manalapan Braves

Whiting was a member of the Manalapan High School football team and the third person associated with the program to die in the last year.

“He was a senior, a role player, scout team player for us, played some special teams. Just an overall great, great kid. He always had a smile on his face. First one out for practice, last one off the field. Did whatever he could to help the team, that was the biggest thing with him. Always about his team and his teammates," head coach Dominick Lepore told New Jersey 101.5.

Navy SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen died in February while training in California while former assistant coach Steve Vella also passed away in October

“It’s been a rough go, a rough nine months with all the loss we’ve gone through as a program. We’re just trying to stay as strong as we can for the guys," Lepore said.

Manalapan Mayor Susan Cohen said her heart goes out to the families affected by the crash. She has spoken to Whiting's mother, offering what help they may need.

"We're here if the family needs us," Cohen said. "From what I heard about this young man he was an amazing person and he always looked at the good in everyone. He always tried to do the best that he could. It's very sad for our community to have another loss."

John Ryan McCarthy
John Ryan McCarthy (Megan Stahley via GoFundMe),
loading...

Another tragedy for Allentown High School

Allentown is also coping with another tragic event involving students from the high school. Four members of the boys soccer team were hospitalized following a car crash in East Windsor in September.

Allentown Mayor Thomas Fritts called Tuesday night's crash a "horrific situation" for someone so young like McCarthy to lose their life in such a tragic way.

"I know on behalf of Allentown, the local government and residents our heart goes out to those individuals, friends, family, extended family. We support anything we can do to assist the family at a time like this. This GoFundMe page is just one aspect," Fritts told New Jersey 101.5." There just are no words to truly express the pain that so many people are feeling."

According to the GoFundMe page McCarthy was the "baby" of the family with an older sister and brother.

"John wore his heart on his sleeve, and family was one of the most important things in his life. No matter what he said, he still would have done anything for someone he loved. John may have been Kirsten's little brother, but he acted as though he was her older brother. He would have done anything for his siblings," organizer Megan Stahley wrote.

Swendeman said the crash remained under investigation.

Bob Badders contributed to this report

Utility crew repairs a pole after a crash on Route 9 in Freehold Township
Utility crew repairs a pole after a crash on Route 9 in Freehold Township (Joe Hewes)
loading...

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

NJ beach tags guide for summer 2022

We're coming up on another summer at the Jersey Shore! Before you get lost in the excitement of sunny days on the sand, we're running down how much seasonal/weekly/daily beach tags will cost you, and the pre-season deals you can still take advantage of!

The 2002-2003 New Jersey Nets: The last time the NBA Finals came through NJ

In 2012 the Nets made their Brooklyn debut, but before that, New Jersey was the home of the Nets dating back to 1977.

The franchise was born in 1967, under the name the New Jersey Americans. They played their games in Teaneck as part of the American Basketball Association. One year later they moved to Long Island, becoming the New York Nets.

It was there the team won two ABA championships in 1973-74 and 1975-76. The very next year the Nets, along with three other basketball franchises, were absorbed into the NBA as part of a merger deal, abolishing the ABA. 

When the Nets first moved to New Jersey, they played their home games at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway. Then in 1981, they moved into the home many of us remember them in the most, the Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford (later named the Continental Airlines Arena, then Izod center). 

After years of losing, The Nets made it to two straight NBA Finals in 2001-02 and 2002-03. In 2002-03, the final time they sniffed the championship, the team lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

It would be the last time the Nets sniffed the title, but their efforts added them to New Jersey lore forever.

NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022

UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.

(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM