TRAGEDY: Petirah of 15-Year-Old BatSheva Cohen A”H of Lakewood [UPDATED – Levaya Info]

UPDATE: We regret to inform you of the tragic Petirah of BatSheva Cohen A”H of Lakewood.

Statement from Lakewood Police 9:10 AM: Last evening, just before 10 pm, Officer Christopher Dunphy was exiting a convenience store located on Rt 70 when he heard what he described as a loud bang followed by yelling and screaming that someone was just struck by a car.

Officer Dunphy entered his marked patrol car and located a 2006 white Lexus with heavy front end damage at the intersection of Rt 70 and Vermont Avenue. He then observed an unresponsive teenage female lying in the roadway behind the vehicle. While Officer Dunphy was gathering his medical equipment, volunteers from Hatzolah EMS arrived on scene and began to perform life saving measures. The 15-year-old victim was transported to Monmouth Medical Southern Campus Hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.

Further investigation revealed that the operator of the white Lexus, a 19-year-old Toms River man, was traveling west on Rt 70 when he struck the victim who was walking south in the crosswalk at Vermont Avenue. She was with her mother and younger sister at the time of the incident.

At this time the investigation is still active with the assistance of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. The driver of the 2006 Lexus is cooperating with law enforcement. No charges have been filed at this time.

UPDATE: The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 2:30 PM today, Wednesday, at the Chapel in Lakewood, 613 Ramsey Avenue, with Kevurah in Lakewood.

Baduch Dayan Ha’emes.

Earlier report:

A pedestrian was critically injured in an accident in Lakewood this evening.

The accident happened shortly before 10:00 PM on Rt. 70 near Vermont Ave.

The pedestrian, said to be a teen girl, is being transported by Hatzolah to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood with serious injuries.

Expect extended closures in the area for the investigation.

Misaskim performing their Avodas HaKodesh at the scene of the pedestrian struck in Lakewood.

Please be Mispallel for BatSheva Bas Chaya Gittel, who was critically injured.

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36 COMMENTS

  1. Prayers for the girl…everyone really should wear reflective attire and if not receive a ticket just like for cell phone use speeding And Etc to many people getting hit by cars because nobody wants to wear reflective stuff when crossing or trying run across street should be mandatory for all on foot people need to start really thinking about safety first

    • Yes, and I hat to give mussar on a post of a tragedy, but there was one like this not long before, and sadly, over ten Yidden and ten goyim in Lakewood over the years.
      The area is lit up very well in the picts, but that’s obviously because of spotlights they put up. People must make a kabala to wear a reflector – it is not beneath anyone’s dignity. And lights on bikes are obligated by law. Look up NJ biker’s laws (and basically same for all states).
      It is really all our responsibility if one person does not wear, as they do not want to be different or just don’t realize the importance.

  2. That intersection is dangerous if ppl are turning left and trying to beat the light. They might not see someone there.

  3. So much building on Route 70. So much traffic. I am afraid this will be what will happen in the future. too many people. Shame when someone is hurt.Route 70 and speeding. A major highway now.

  4. This is yet another so-called “accident” in a disturbing trend of people getting hit, here and in other places like it.
    It all comes down to the road design. There is no sidewalk or crosswalk here and people keep getting hurt or dying.

  5. This is not a time to be giving mussar yet it is the time to give Nechama for klal yisroel and for this young girl. Alis is bashert and ה׳ has a plan. We may not always see what he has in mind or we may never know but her neshama should have an aliyah. so sad R”L…… משיח מיז קומן יעצט

  6. BDH. Since that intersection is governed by a traffic light, the principal question is: did she cross with the light or against the light? I really hope that no one would ever think of crossing rt 70 against the light.

  7. Driving in lakewood is worse than in india or china
    Peaple here need to respect rules, one of them slow down before a crosswalk and Don’t look on your phone while driving, Your whatsapp can wait

  8. This is definitely a time to wake up and take mussar from this story. The problem is if family or close friends are reading these comments. For them obviously this is only the time for nechama.

  9. I think overhead pedestrian bridges would greatly benefit this city. They are much safer. They will reduce traffic. And they are a lot more simple to install than adding lanes to roads. But adding lanes actually makes overhead pedestrian bridges even more important for pedestrian safety.

  10. Mesivta Tiferes Shmuel was until recently right by that corner. But they recently moved. So that area doesn’t have anymore the zechus hatorah that it used to. Although learning protects the whole world, R’ Nosson Vachtfogel and R’ Moshe Feinstien both said that there is a special protection for the roads right near the learning.
    This is one of many reasons why bochurim should probably not come from all over to learn in BMG. Because we need the zechus hatorah all over. I mentioned another reason here https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/letter-shidduch-crisis-stop-the-kvetching-and-blaming-and-start-working-today/#comment-933989

    • They can be INSTEAD of regular crosswalks. That’s how they will help with traffic. Wherever there are overhead pedestrian bridges, there is usually not also a regular crosswalk with a traffic light. But it would be nice if the bridge has an escalator lol.

Comments are closed.