They were just driving southbound, a group of friends heading home in the quiet early hours of Sunday morning, when tragedy struck without warning.
At 12:40 a.m., 20-year-old Yaakov Kilberg and three teenage friends were traveling in a Mazda SUV along the New Jersey Turnpike when their lives were suddenly and violently cut short.
A Dodge pickup truck, driven in the wrong direction by 45-year-old Christopher Neff, came barreling toward them at high speed. In a split second, the two vehicles collided head-on, the impact catastrophic.
The force of the crash sent the Mazda spinning into the path of a nearby tractor-trailer, which struck the SUV again, crushing it beyond recognition. Within moments, what had been an ordinary late-night drive became an unimaginable tragedy.
All four young men inside the Mazda were pronounced dead at the scene. They were sons, brothers, students, and friends young lives with futures ahead of them, now gone in an instant.
Their loss has shaken their community deeply, leaving behind grieving families and classmates struggling to comprehend how such a senseless event could happen. Yaakov Kilberg, remembered by friends as kind and full of energy, was the eldest in the group.
His companions, still teenagers, had been close friends since childhood. Together, they shared the easy laughter and dreams that come with youth, never imagining their lives would end this way.
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, Christopher Neff, was seriously injured in the collision and remains hospitalized. Authorities have not yet determined why he was driving northbound in the southbound lanes.
Investigators from the New Jersey State Police closed the section of the Turnpike for several hours as they gathered evidence, examined skid marks, and reviewed traffic camera footage.
Toxicology results are pending, and officials have not announced whether alcohol, drugs, or distraction played a role.
As of now, no charges have been filed, but the investigation continues.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, who could not avoid the wreckage, escaped without injury but was visibly shaken by the horrific scene.
Emergency responders described the crash as one of the most devastating they had encountered in recent months.
Wreckage was strewn across multiple lanes, and the highway was shut down until late morning while crews worked to clear debris and reconstruct the sequence of events.
In the aftermath, the community has come together to support the victims’ families. Vigils and prayer gatherings are being planned, with friends and relatives sharing photos, memories, and messages of love for the boys whose lives ended far too soon.
For many, the tragedy is a painful reminder of how fragile life can be how a single moment of recklessness or confusion can shatter multiple families forever.
As investigators search for answers, the grief remains raw. Four young men who had everything ahead of them are gone, leaving behind an emptiness that words can barely express. Sincere condolences go out to the families and friends mourning this heartbreaking loss.
