A 36-year-old Cherry Hill man was struck and killed while crossing Route 38 on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Michael V. Mancuso was hit by an eastbound vehicle near Longwood Avenue at approximately 7:56 p.m., the Cherry Hill Police Department said in a statement released through South Jersey Media. Police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel responded. Mancuso was later pronounced dead.
The driver was not injured and remained at the scene, cooperating with investigators, police said.
Route 38 was closed in both directions while the Cherry Hill Police Department Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) conducted an on-scene investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by the TSU with assistance from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Medical Examiner. No charges have been announced.
Route 38 pedestrian history
Police have not said whether Mancuso was in a crosswalk at the time of the crash.
The area around Longwood Avenue sits on a stretch of Route 38 with a long history of pedestrian fatalities. At least 21 pedestrians have been killed on the three-mile commercial corridor since 1975, according to an analysis of state fatal-accident data by 70and73.com.
In a 2024 interview with 70and73.com about pedestrian safety on that corridor, former Cherry Hill Police Chief Robert Kempf said about 90% of pedestrian crashes there were caused by the actions of the pedestrian, such as crossing outside a crosswalk or ignoring signals. Kempf said barriers and fencing on medians had been effective near Cuthbert Boulevard in discouraging unsafe crossings.
Mayor David Fleisher, in the same 2024 interview, acknowledged the corridor's toll. "One fatality is too many," he said at the time.
How to help
Anyone who witnessed the Oct. 8 crash or has information is asked to contact the Cherry Hill Police Traffic Safety Unit at (856) 488-7820 or [email protected].
