Carneys Point Township, NJ (October 19, 2025) – Four young men were killed early Sunday in a multi-vehicle crash on the southbound New Jersey Turnpike near milepost 1.3 that included a collision with a tractor-trailer.
Accident Details: According to New Jersey State Police, a Dodge pickup driven north in the southbound lanes collided head-on with a Mazda SUV driven by 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg of Lakewood. After the impact, a Freightliner tractor-trailer traveling in the right lane struck the Mazda. Kilberg and his passengers—18-year-old Aharon Lebovits and 18-year-old Shlomo Cohen, both of Lakewood, and 18-year-old Chaim Grossman of Fallsburg, New York—were killed. The pickup’s driver, identified as 41-year-old Christopher Neff of Westminster, Colorado, suffered serious injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was not hurt. The crash led to a fire and extended closures while responders worked the scene.
Investigation: State Police continue to examine the wrong-way entry point, vehicle trajectories, and roadway evidence to determine how the sequence unfolded. Detectives are reviewing witness accounts and camera footage to establish time, distance, and speed leading up to the head-on collision and the subsequent truck impact.
Legal Considerations: Wrong-way driving generally supports a finding of negligence, and when a commercial vehicle is also involved, additional layers of evidence—such as electronic control module data and compliance with federal safety rules—may affect liability. Families of those killed may consider wrongful death claims to address funeral costs, loss of support, and non-economic harm. Prompt evidence preservation often proves critical in multi-vehicle freeway crashes.
My deepest condolences go to the families and communities mourning Yaakov Kilberg, Aharon Lebovits, Shlomo Cohen, and Chaim Grossman.
Source: ABC7 New York