Authorities in New Jersey have filed multiple serious charges against a Colorado man accused of causing the horrific October 19 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that claimed the lives of four bochurim on Sunday.
Prosecutors announced that 41-year-old Christopher Neff, of Westminster, Colorado, now faces counts of vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and weapons-related charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on the Turnpike in the early morning hours of that Sunday. Officials said Neff was also found with hollow-point ammunition at the time of the collision.
The deadly crash took place in Carneys Point Township and resulted in the petiros of four beloved bochurim, 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg, who was behind the wheel, and his passengers, 18-year-olds Aharon Lebovits and Shlomo Cohen of Lakewood, New Jersey, along with 18-year-old Shlomo Chaim Grossman of South Fallsburg, New York.
Police reports allege that Neff was under the influence of alcohol when he drove his Dodge pickup northbound in the southbound lanes, striking the SUV carrying the four young men. The impact pushed their vehicle into the path of a Freightliner tractor-trailer, killing all four bochurim nstantly. Investigators said the probe into the crash is still ongoing.
According to court filings, witnesses and emergency responders detected “a strong odor of an alcohol beverage emanating from Mr. Neff’s breath” immediately after the crash. Testing later revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was more than double the legal limit of .08%.
Surveillance footage obtained by police reportedly shows Neff drinking several alcoholic beverages at a nearby Carneys Point bar shortly before leaving, less than thirty minutes before the crash. Authorities said he remains hospitalized with multiple fractures, including broken legs and an arm, as well as other serious injuries.
{Matzav.com}
