CARNEYS POINT TOWNSHIP, NJ – Four yeshiva students were killed early Sunday morning after a suspected drunk driver collided with their vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 1, just north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
New Jersey State Police said the crash occurred around 1 a.m. on the southbound side of the Turnpike and involved two vehicles.
All four victims – three from Lakewood, NJ, and one from South Fallsburg, NY – were traveling together when their car was struck, killing them instantly.
Key Points
- Four yeshiva students killed in two-car crash near Exit 1 on NJ Turnpike
- Police investigating suspected drunk driver as cause of collision
- Three victims from Lakewood, one from South Fallsburg
Overnight collision near Delaware Memorial Bridge
According to authorities, emergency responders including New Jersey State Police, local fire units, and EMS crews arrived shortly after 1 a.m. and worked through the night to secure the scene. The southbound lanes remained closed for several hours while investigators examined the wreckage.
Community organizations respond
Members of Misaskim and local askanim (community liaisons) arrived at the site overnight to assist authorities and ensure proper handling of the victims in accordance with Jewish tradition. They are coordinating with law enforcement and family representatives as arrangements are made.
Investigation ongoing
State Police have not yet released the names of the victims pending family notification. The second driver, suspected of being under the influence, was taken into custody, and the crash remains under active investigation.
Officials called the accident one of the most tragic incidents to strike the region’s Orthodox community in recent memory, drawing expressions of grief from religious leaders in both Lakewood and South Fallsburg.