Former Princeton Packet Reporter Dies After Crash

Joseph Harvie. Facebook photo.
Joseph Harvie. Facebook photo.

A man riding a bike on Mercer Street in East Windsor was struck by a car Saturday after attempting to make a turn onto Airport Road.

Former Princeton Packet reporter Joseph Harvie, 36, of Monroe Township was heading south on Mercer Street around noon when he tried to make a left turn and and was hit by a car driven by Jake Hopfinger, 64, of Hightstown, police said.

Harvie was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, where he died as a result of his injuries.

No charges have been filed in the incident yet.

Harvie, the spokesman for Monroe Township, was a dog lover who began biking to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis research. He was well known by people in the Princeton area cycling community.

Former Packet Publications editor Hank Kalet said he was shocked to learn of Harvie’s death.

“Joe was the definition of a good guy. We saw some shows together — Wilco, Art Brut, Steve Winwood — and helped anchor one of the strongest staffs I had at the Post and Press,” Kalet said. “I hired him for his first journalism job after college, and he never disappointed. Give me a staff of Joe Harvie and we’d have the best local paper around.”