A section of New Jersey highway near Philadelphia was renamed the “Ensign John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange” in honor the naval officer from Egg Harbor Township killed by a drunken driver on July 22, 2000.

Elliott’s death, which occurred two months after he’d graduated the U.S. Naval Academy, led his parents to form the HERO campaign, a nationally-recognized non-profit dedicated to preventing DWI deaths by promoting designated drivers.

In a ceremony in Bellmawr Thursday, NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor, state and local offices and the Elliott family unveiled the sign designating the new interchange connecting I-295 and Route 42 in Elliott’s memory.

The designation was “a fitting tribute to Ensign Elliott who would have served our nation with honor and distinction had he lived. We are proud to dedicate this interchange as a symbol of his service and sacrifice, ” O’Connor said.

The interchange, which only opened last summer provides an alternative to the Jersey Shore from Route 40, a two-lane highway that Elliott took home the night he died in a head-on collision.
“We know this interchange would have prevented our son’s death and will save lives in the future,” said Bill Elliott, John Elliott’s father.

But what has also saved lives has been the work put in by Bill and Muriel Elliot to establish the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers, dedicated to preventing drunk driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers nationwide.

Since its inception, The HERO campaign has spread nationally with partnerships with schools and colleges, police, bar and tavern owners, and NFL and Major League Baseball teams.
More than 150,000 motorists have taken the HERO Pledge to be designated drivers for their friends and families.

NJ lawmakers also responded. n 2001, state lawmakers passed “John’s Law,” which has allowed police to impound the cars of those arrested for DUI for 12 hours, to prevent them from driving while still intoxicated.

Legislation to approve the Ensign Elliott Interchange was sponsored by Atlantic County state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-2 and unanimously approved by the NJ Senate and Assembly, and signed into law by acting Governor Nicholas Scutari on August 19, 2024.

“On that fateful night in July, 2000, the Elliott family suffered a tremendous and tragic loss,” said Polistina. “But of that loss, the HERO Foundation was born and through their advocacy about the risks of intoxicated driving, who’s to say how many lives have been, and will be saved?”

As part of the ceremony, 20 NJ police departments sent cars wrapped in the distinctive blue and gold HERO brand.

John Elliott was named the Outstanding HERO of his graduating class for his service as a Human Education Resource Officer and the Academy’s Capstone Leadership Seminars were established in his memory.
Also on Thursday, the Lower Township Police Department dedicated a new police vehicle in honor of the campaign.

“We’re proud to be part of such an important campaign that encourages sober driving, designated drivers, and alternate safe transportation options,” said Chief Kevin Lewis in a statement.
In an effort to promote the HERO Campaign sober and designated driver program, Lower Township Police with the sponsorship of the

New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Association (NJHTSA), the DUI enforcement vehicle was outfitted with trademark logos and Lower Township Police emblems. The campaign’s signature message is, “Be a HERO. Be a designated Driver.”

For more information, go to www.herocampaign.org.

John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange Dedication Photo Gallery