Family seeks to rename I-80 overpass in Warren County in memory of roadside worker killed in hit-and-run crash
FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — Nearly one year after a 20-year-old roadside service technician was struck and killed while assisting a disabled tractor-trailer on Interstate 80, his family is seeking to rename the overpass near where he died in his memory.
The family of Ethan Patrick Schultz has launched a petition calling for the State Park Road overpass, which crosses Interstate 80 near milepost 14 in Frelinghuysen Township, to be renamed the “Ethan Patrick Schultz Memorial Overpass.”
Schultz, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, was killed Oct. 23, 2025, just four days before his 21st birthday. His family hopes the proposed dedication will honor his life while raising awareness about New Jersey’s Move Over law and the dangers faced by roadside emergency and service workers.
Jason Schultz, Ethan’s father, told RNJ that he plans to attend a Frelinghuysen Township Council meeting to seek support for the proposal.
“I have started a petition to have the State Park Road overpass where he died. I am asking it be renamed Ethan Patrick Schultz Memorial Overpass. I will be attending the Frelinghusyen Township Council meeting to ask for their support and to draft a Resolution of Support. I have collected nearly 800 signatures since I started this project last Wednesday.”
According to the New Jersey State Police, troopers responded to the fatal crash at approximately 6:37 a.m. Oct. 23, 2025, on Interstate 80 West near milepost 14.
State Police spokesman Sgt. First Class Charles Marchan said a preliminary investigation determined that a Freightliner tractor-trailer had become disabled on the right shoulder of the highway. A roadside service vehicle was parked in front of the Freightliner, and Schultz had approached the tractor-trailer on the driver’s side.
An unidentified white commercial vehicle traveling westbound struck Schultz and the driver’s side door of the Freightliner before fleeing the scene, Marchan said.
Schultz sustained fatal injuries. In their petition, his parents said New Jersey State Police identified and located the driver approximately 14 hours after the crash and arrested and charged him in connection with their son’s death.
The family said Schultz was raised in northeastern Pennsylvania before moving to Winterville, North Carolina. They described him as an intelligent, funny and thoughtful young man who volunteered with local charities and youth groups and was working toward his goals.
After graduating from high school, Schultz enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Oak Hill. According to his family, an accident aboard the ship left him disabled and led to his discharge from military service.
Schultz later began working at the T/A Truck Stop in Columbia, New Jersey, where he continued his diesel training. Within a few months, he was promoted to roadside service, a position that required him to assist motorists and commercial truck drivers experiencing mechanical problems.
On the morning of the fatal crash, Schultz had been dispatched to assist the disabled tractor-trailer along Interstate 80.
In their petition, his parents described the devastating impact of losing their son, who was also a younger brother to Christopher and Joshua.
“As parents, we can attest to his immense potential and the bright future that was so senselessly cut short. He was not just our son, but a loving brother to his older brothers Christopher and Joshua. His sudden departure has left an unfillable void in our lives,” the family wrote.
The family said the proposed memorial would serve not only as a tribute to Schultz but also as a reminder of the importance of obeying laws designed to protect people working along highways.
“More so than just a name on a sign, this memorial would stand as a testament to the importance of the Slow Down Move Over laws and the impact on countless lives when this law is not obeyed,” the petition states.
New Jersey’s Move Over law, which took effect Jan. 27, 2009, requires motorists approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance vehicle or other emergency service vehicle displaying flashing, blinking or alternating red, blue, amber or yellow lights to move into a lane that is not adjacent to the stopped vehicle, provided traffic and safety conditions permit.
If changing lanes is impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, drivers must reduce their speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop if necessary. Motorists who violate the law face fines ranging from $100 to $500.
The family is encouraging members of the public to sign the petition and urging state and local lawmakers to support the honorary renaming of the overpass.
According to Jason Schultz, the petition has collected more than 800 signatures since its launch last Wednesday. He said he plans to ask Frelinghuysen Township officials to draft a resolution supporting the proposal.
The family said it continues to await justice in connection with Schultz’s death and hopes the memorial will encourage drivers to recognize the risks faced by roadside workers.
“Ethan, like thousands of other first responders, deserve to return home after their shift. And sadly, some do not,” the family wrote in the petition.
The petition calls on the community to support the proposed “Ethan Patrick Schultz Memorial Overpass” as a lasting tribute to his life and to others who have died while working along roadways.
Anyone wishing to support the effort to rename the overpass in Ethan Patrick Schultz’s memory can sign the petition here.
