Driver in Turnpike crash that killed four teens had been drinking for several hours, according to police.

A tragic incident on the New Jersey Turnpike has left four teenagers dead after a driver, suspected of drinking for several hours, collided with their vehicle. Christopher Neff, a 41-year-old resident of Colorado, was reportedly seen at the Turnpike Inn in Carney’s Point shortly before the collision, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. Authorities indicate that Neff was operating a Dodge pickup truck in the wrong direction, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes when he struck a Mazda CX-5 head-on near the 1.3 milepost in Salem County, approximately 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia.

Following the initial collision, the Mazda subsequently crashed into a tractor-trailer. According to a probable cause affidavit, Neff’s blood alcohol content was measured at 0.22%, which is nearly three times the legal limit. Investigators also conducted a search of his vehicle, discovering several firearms, including an AR-style rifle fitted with a suppressor, a short-barreled rifle, and a handgun. Additionally, there were several high-capacity magazines and over 100 rounds of ammunition, as well as substances including psilocybin mushrooms and methadone.

Witnesses reported a strong odor of alcohol on Neff’s breath after the crash, a detail noted in court documents. Neff is currently receiving medical treatment for significant injuries sustained during the incident, including fractures to both legs and a broken arm.

The victims of this tragic accident were identified as 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg, the driver of the Mazda, and three 18-year-olds: Aharon Lebovits and Shlomo Cohen, both from Lakewood Township in Ocean County, and Chaim Grossman, who hailed from Fallsburg, New York.

In light of the fatalities, Neff faces serious legal repercussions, being charged with four counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and an additional four counts of second-degree homicide. He has also been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of hollow-point ammunition, highlighting the gravity of the events surrounding the incident. This collision has sparked discussions about the dangers of impaired driving and the responsibility drivers hold for the safety of others on the road.

As the investigation continues, community members are mourning the loss of the young lives taken too soon, while the legal process unfolds for Neff. The case underscores the tragic consequences of driving under the influence and emphasizes the need for continued awareness and preventive measures to ensure road safety.

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