A homeless man was struck and killed by a vehicle, officials say. The accident occurred around 11:30 PM Friday night at the intersection of MLK Drive and Cedarbridge Avenue.
The pedestrian, identified as 67-year-old Ronald Leggatt, was struck by a 2008 Chevy Avalanche operated by a 36-year-old Jackson man, police said.
“Evidence on scene suggested that The Avalanche was traveling east on Cedarbridge Avenue when it struck Mr. Leggatt, who was in left travel lane approximately 100 feet west of Martin Luther King Drive,” Lieutenant Greg Staffordsmith said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Assisting in the investigation is the Lakewood Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriffs Department’s CSI Unit.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Officer Justin Pederson
at 732-363-0200.
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RIH Ron <3
Not the first time I’ve complained about the safety issues on Cedarbridge.
Isn’t this guy the same one that was helped last winter ? He wears a 49ers jacket.
HE WAS NOT HOMELESS!!!!! WE FOUND HIM A HOME.
It should not be hard to fine a car that dragged a man 3 blocks.
RIP Ron.
No one wanted to bother with Ron until he received all those donations. Then people foolishly spent the money – not even sure how much Ron actually got and how much was siphoned off. Instead of getting him long term sbsidized housing , thaousands of dollars were spent keeping him in a high priced rooming house. Some homeless adovocates convinced him ( and others ) that no one wants them so just pitch a tent and live in the woods, rather than take Ron in person to apply for affordable senior housing . I knew Ron a long time but unfortuantely because of his disabilities he often did not have enough self esteem and mental ability to break free of these people and accept proper help from the government. I have seen way too many people die out in those woods. Every death was a preventable tragedy . Ron could have and should have received proper help by trained people- instead he was jst used by people to further their agendas. RIP Ron. It is too late for you , but hopefully by your death more people will be encouraged to step up and offer real help for the homless.
The driver didn’t flee the scene. He waited at the scene …. very sas
I drive by that area by night all the time.
Its very dark. The residents that life in the red apartment buildings are always crossing the street in the pitch black. It is very dangerous.
They should wear reflectors, or cross at the cross walk when the traffic light permits.
It’s almost every day that people are getting hit and killed this by cars. ADD STEET LIGHTS!!
There should be street lights in that area like were installed on Ridge near New Hampshire and the Old Pine Acres area, it looks like daylight at night in those locations.
Ron has been a resident of the manor in Lakewood for well over a year . He was not Homeless. So why report him that way ??
so sad
Wow these crazy people from jackson come to Lakewood and kill ppl! How dpea that sound? Not good so why are there posts on nj.com and app blaming lakewood and the Jews? Dont they realize that both partiea arent from lakewood and Jews dont drive on shabbos? Theu dont want to realize anything to spread more hate! There is too much hate in this world!
Will be like that will moshiach comes
To Just Me,
Ron was assisted on numerous occassions and was not elible for many services. He also wasnt stable enough to reside on his own however was able to be placed at the Lexington. There was no agenda in helping him. Just tried to have him be safe as possible. Unfortunately he loved his bicycle and liked to roam the city at night and it clearly wasnt safe. Reat in peace Ron, hope youre in a better place.
I agree with you in some respects , but the Lexington was not a good choice . Maybe you had no selfish agenda , but some did . Ron needed many services , but it seems he just slipped through the cracks. Spending all his money for that Pt Pleasant rooming house when it would have been better to get him into supported housing and professional mental/psych help . Living in the woods of Tent City did not help him one bit either .
Just me,
If I remember correctly, when tent city was torn down the residents were given vouchers by the government for probably the same amount of money, if not more, that were used to live in the same type of motels. Which ran out after a year and put them back out on the street. Whether he was helped with a voucher or a go fund me is irrevelant. He was helped. What is more important, is that I believe the good Lord had His hand in that coffee incident, to make Sure Ron’s last days were NOT homeless and on the street. Whether you like rev Steve or not, there is one sole boss in heaven who has the last word. He controls EVERYTHING. Remember that.
I agree with you. But many people , including the Ocean County Social Services who could have helped him did not . Most of the others ignored Ron until Ron received the donations. Ron needed coddling but he was responsive to help when offered, but the help offered was never enough. I think if anyone say down with him and asked him to come to a program he would have . Ron stayed in an apartment for that year, when it was over they were kicked out and onto the streets. I just can’t believe that the Lexington let Ron ride his bike at night like that – but I know the Lex just warehouses the disabled . As far as you telling me about the Boss upstairs , like I don’t know him …He does not intervene in every case, or else the world would not be as it is today . It is up to us to do what we can to help others. He knows EVERYTHING , but it is not the time for the Messiah to act . I am sure He is very sad how the disabled are treated on Earth. Remember that . Too many times ( not referring to you because you do seem kind) the disabled are exploited for selfish gains of others. I can’t see why the homeless Tent City residents were refused apartments in the senior complexes around town.
The only one who offered real help to the former residents of Tent City was the place down in Atlantic City – Haven Beat The Streets. Much more success than any other group. Too bad Haven didn’t get a place up in Ocean County . Ron is in a better place now.