The South Jersey community is mourning the loss of two men in their 70s, Calvin Harrje and Vance Virtue, who died in separate traffic accidents over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving families, friends, and neighbors grappling with the sudden tragedies. These incidents, occurring just days apart, have cast a somber shadow over the region, highlighting the fragility of life and the dangers that can arise on the road.

Calvin Harrje, a 70-year-old resident of Deptford, was killed in a collision in Vineland on the evening of May 29. The accident took place shortly after 6 p.m. at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hance Bridge Road. According to Vineland police, Harrje’s vehicle was struck after allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign. The impact was devastating, and Harrje was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, a 54-year-old man from Vineland, sustained injuries that required hospital treatment but were not considered life-threatening. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash and have urged anyone with information to contact Officer Christian Morales of the Vineland Police Department. The loss of Harrje has left a void in the Deptford community, where he was known as a kind and dependable neighbor. Friends described him as a man who lived quietly but with a warmth that touched those around him. As the investigation continues, the community waits for answers, hoping to find closure in the wake of this tragedy.

Just three days earlier, on May 26, another life was cut short in Hamilton Township when 71-year-old Vance Virtue of Egg Harbor Township died in a motorcycle accident. The crash occurred around 3:10 p.m. on Weymouth Road near the Winding River Campground. Virtue, an experienced motorcyclist, was riding his 2008 Kawasaki when a 78-year-old Mays Landing man driving a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox made a left turn into his path. The collision was catastrophic, and Virtue was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening, but the emotional toll of the accident has reverberated through the community. Hamilton Township police diverted traffic for several hours as they investigated the scene, and the inquiry into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.

Vance Virtue was more than just a motorcyclist; he was a beloved figure in South Jersey, particularly in Atlantic City, where he served as the senior mechanic for the Atlantic City Police Department’s motorcycle unit from 1978 until his retirement in 2016. His obituary painted a vivid picture of a man whose passion for motorcycles extended far beyond his professional life. Virtue was an avid collector, a regular at motorcycle rallies, and a dedicated participant in charity rides that supported causes close to his heart. “Motorcycles were more than just a career; they were a lifelong love,” his obituary noted, capturing the essence of a man who lived for the open road. Friends and colleagues remembered him as a skilled mechanic with an infectious enthusiasm for life, always ready with a story or a laugh that could light up a room. His death has left a profound sense of loss among those who knew him, from fellow riders to the officers he worked alongside for nearly four decades.

These two accidents, occurring in such close succession, have prompted reflection in South Jersey about road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users like motorcyclists. The region has seen a troubling number of fatal crashes in recent months, including other incidents over the same weekend that claimed additional lives. Community leaders and law enforcement are urging drivers to remain vigilant, obey traffic signs, and be mindful of motorcyclists, whose passion for riding can expose them to significant risks. As investigations into both crashes continue, the families of Calvin Harrje and Vance Virtue are left to navigate their grief, supported by a community that shares in their sorrow. Memorials are being planned to honor the lives of these two men, whose legacies will endure in the hearts of those they touched.