Four Bachurim – including three from Lakewood, were Niftar overnight in a horrific accident on the Turnpike, Askonim told TLS. The fourth boy was from South Fallsburg.
According to preliminary information from law enforcement, it appears the accident happened around 1:00 AM near exit 2 on the Turnpike, in Carneys Point Township, when an alleged drunk driver drove the opposite way up the highway, colliding with them head on.
The NJSP released the following statement to TLS:
“Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at 12:42 a.m. on the New Jersey Turnpike south milepost 1.3, Carneys Point Twp., Salem County.
Based on a preliminary investigation, Christopher Neff, a 41-year-old male from Westminster, CO, was operating a Dodge pickup truck northbound in the southbound lanes of the NJTPK. Yaakov Kilberg, a 19-year-old male from Lakewood, NJ, was operating a Mazda SUV south on the NJTPK in the left inner lane with three passengers: Aharon Lebovits, an 18-year-old male from Lakewood, NJ; Shlomo Cohen, an 18-year-old male from Lakewood, NJ; and Chaim Grossman, an 18-year-old male from Fallsburg, NY. Harpret Singh Sandhu, a 29-year-old male from Nova Scotia, was operating a Freightliner tractor-trailer in the right lane behind the Mazda. In the area of milepost 1.3, a head-on collision occurred between the Mazda and the Dodge. After the collision, the Mazda was struck by the Freightliner. As a result of the crash, the driver of the Mazda, Kilberg, and passengers Grossman, Lebovits, and Cohen sustained fatal injuries. Neff sustained serious injuries, and Sandhu sustained no injuries. The crash remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at the moment.”
The Bachurim were reportedly headed to Tennessee for a Bein Hazmanim trip.
UPDATE 11:50 AM: As of 11:45 AM, Askonim tell TLS that the bodies have not yet been released, and they prefer that the extended family members out of town are notified before the names are published.
UPDATE 12:13 PM: Askonim called TLS moments ago to release the names: The Bachurim’s family names are Kilberg from Hearth Court, Cohen from Ponderosa, Lebowitz from Spruce Street, and Grossman from South Fallsburg.
TENTATIVE LEVAYA SCHEDULE: The Levaya for Shlomo Cohen Z”L is scheduled to take place at 3:30 PM today at the Lakewood High School (across the Chapel)
The Levaya for Yaakov Kilberg Z”L is scheduled for 4:00 PM in the Chapel.
The Levaya for Chaim Grossman Z”L is scheduled for 5:15 PM at the Lakewood High School.
Kevurah in Lakewood.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
(Note: The information was only published after the families were notified, which was moments ago.)
BDE.
Nothing else to say
BDE. HASHEM YERACHEM
BDE
(moderated)
moderated
Do you even bother reading the full comment before you spew your ignorance?
moderated
We need artscroll to translate what you mean to say
moderated
Of course NOBODY can say “why” it happened – especially when there’s novi.
There’s no ill to talk chizuk hadas – whatever it is to strengthen our connection to G-d and do repentance on the things that’s obviously needing tikun. For one – talking in shul is a very big aveira. The fact that you’re belittling this grave sin – please check your yiras shomayim
SHUT UP! Sanctimonious creep….
4 young kids were just killed and all you can do is hate what is wrong with
What’s with the language?!
He’s 100% RIGHT Chazal say that now that we don’t have Neviim Messages are sent Midah Kineged Midah
How many more collisions of inoscent Bachrim on Bein Hazmanim Road Trips
ALL RABBANIM AND ROSHEI YESHIVA ASSUR THEM ALREADY!!!
thats the stupidest thing. to assur trips because accidents happen??? forget that the word asur doesnt apply they have no rights to make any issurim, its honestly stupid.
i must say you made me laugh even though im not sure i agree with you
Please close the comments section
Agreed. Perhaps TLS should also erase most of the earlier comments. They are so distasteful and worse, especially at a moment when Lakewood is sadly yet again plunged into unimaginable grief..
with over 100 likes can you just listen to the people. isnt that what the new like/dislike feature is for?
Another perspective to consider: These young men may have only allotted a limited number of years to achieve their purpose her, but they were zocheh to be well, strong, and active until their final moments,
Your a cold hearted Moron
See Rambam beginning Hilchos Taanis- it is cruelty to view a tragedy as something normal.
Agree about the drunk driver.
but main thing is just BD’E. Tears. Compassion for the family. Reminding ourselves that Hashem runs the world. Not sure what else there is to say
This comment section is going through all 5 stages of grief. While this is completely normal, maybe comment sections on news like this should be closed. Imagine the pain of family members of the niftarim as they read through what people are saying here.
Anyone who would like to criticize start with yourself then criticize your wife if you survive then come here
It’s called vehicular homicide, and they charge people with it all the time.
Which is lesser charge than 1st degree murder and drunk drivers that get caught before they kill anyone don’t get even close to that.
Wow so many down votes, do those represent the drunk drivers or they just think drunk drivers should be able to continue to drink and drive to kell another day.
Nope.
@tls not every news story needs a comment section.
I can’t stop crying
Terrible tragedy.
Boruch Dayan HaEmes.
ברוך דיין האמת
(Since it is one of the final things we will say about niftarim, IMHO it is far more respectful to spell out our heartfelt sentiments. Please try to avoid abbreviations, like “BDE”)
Were they from Rabbi Septimus Yeshiva?
The Lakewood victims have been identified as Yaakov Kilberg z”l, the son of R’ Moishe and Shlomis; Aharon Nosson Lebovitz z”l, the son of R’ Moshe Shimon and Dubby; Shlomo Abba Cohen z”l, the son of R’ Dovid and Esther; and Chaim Simcha Grossman z”l from South Fallsburg, whose grandparents reside in Lakewood.
Three of the victims were talmidim of Rabbi Feigenbaum’s yeshiva in Lakewood.
2 from sukeniks
What do you prefer “RIP”
Yes, if punishment for DWI would be as it should be, there would be a lot fewer drunk drivers.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet. Saying some tehillim and lighting candles for each boy here in Jerusalem.
Oy! Boruch Dayim Emes. This news breaks my heart. So sorry to the families. May you never feel tzar like this ever again.
With all the sinas chinam in these comments, it’s no wonder tragedies like this happen. Stop already! No onaas devarim! No lashon hara! No machlokes! Love each other, for G-d’s sake!
The fact that I received so many thumbs down on my comment, which is based on the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer Shemiras Halashon, is exactly the point. We need to be better than this.
Don’t you think wearing a Sheitel more common than “Limited” would do the job to have things dramatically change in our community and bring the Shechina back into our midst???
BD”E
BDE. My heart is breaking. 😰 הקבה should give the families the כח to be able to make it through this difficult and painful time. They should have a נחמה. Let us daven for these families to give them this כח. Hashem please help these families and may Klal Yisroel suffer no more tzaros.
Baruch Dayan Haemes!
Hashem should comfort all the mourners.
Nothing else needs to be said.
Hashem our hearts are broken, and we aren’t even related. Oy! 4 levayahs one after another, it’s almost impossible to read. Hashem please bring moshiach NOW, So this will only be a short ti’ull from their families.
Crying 😭
BDHaemes
May their holy and pure souls bang on the doors of heaven and procure good tidings in all areas for all. And may their families be consoled among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.
You shouldn’t only be waiting until the families are notified to publish the names. You should be waiting until a couple, or even a few, hours after they are notified so the extended family members and close friends can find out in semi-normal ways. (I would think that’s common sense.)
they did
Is there any live stream? Or the zoom?
I am so very sorry for the loss of these young men. May God give the families some comfort and comfort to the community.
is there a call in number for cohen
Thank you to all who brought to our attention some comments which addressed issued unrelated to, or were insensitive to the the tragedy. Those comments were removed.
Please do not use the comments section to bring up unrelated topics or personal agendas with regards to other topics.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes. May Hashem comfort the families of the niftarim b’soch sha’ar aveley Tzion viRushalayim.
May Hashem comfort the families of the niftarim and the entire Klal Yisroel for this unexpected loss.
Where can I get the link for the live is there a number to call
The available livestreams were posted in the article, as well as on our Status and Communities.
Is a link for the kamenetz levayah available?
The link was posted on that name.
I feel like the comment section should be closed when these types of tragedies are posted
May they Rest In Peace
Does anyone know Chaim Simcha Zt”l’s father’s name? So we can do things L’ilui Nishmaso. I don’t see his fathers name anywhere.
Does anyone know the father’s name of Chaim Simcha Grossman? I don’t see it anywhere and want to do L’ilui Nishmaso.