Colorado man faces charges in wrong-way crash that resulted in the deaths of four teenagers on the New Jersey Turnpike.
A Colorado man has been indicted on multiple charges linked to a tragic wrong-way collision that claimed the lives of four teenagers on the New Jersey Turnpike in the early hours of October 19. Court documents obtained from Media News Source indicate that Christopher Neff, aged 41, faces four counts of first-degree death by auto and second-degree reckless manslaughter following a devastating head-on crash involving his 2021 Dodge Ram and a southbound Mazda CX-5.
According to an official statement from the New Jersey State Police, Neff’s vehicle was observed traveling north in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike around 12:40 a.m. The collision occurred near milepost 1.3 in Carneys Point Township, Salem County, resulting in immediate fatalities for all four occupants of the Mazda. The victims have been identified as 19-year-old driver Yaakov Kilberg and passengers Aharon Lebovits and Shlomo Cohen, both 18 years old from Lakewood, New Jersey, and Chaim Grossman, also 18, from Fallsburg, New York.
Following the initial crash, the Mazda was subsequently struck from behind by a tractor-trailer. Neff, who was apprehended at the scene, was found to be in possession of hollow-point ammunition, leading to additional charges related to weapons offenses, according to court records.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident revealed that Neff exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. First responders noted a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and surveillance footage captured him drinking at a bar in Carneys Point approximately 30 minutes prior to the catastrophic event. Neff sustained extensive injuries in the crash, including fractures to both legs and a broken arm.
The four teenagers were reportedly on their way to Tennessee for a school vacation, companions who also shared ties as friends and classmates at the same yeshiva. This tragic event has not only deeply affected their families but has also sent ripples through their community.
As authorities continue their investigation, additional charges against Neff may be forthcoming. The small township of Carneys Point, located roughly 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia, has become the focal point of this heart-wrenching story, and the impact of the loss is being felt far beyond its borders.
