'Every parent's worst nightmare': Names of victims in Lakewood crash released
Authorities have identified nearly all the victims in a crash in Lakewood early Saturday that claimed the lives of three and seriously injured two others, one critically.
Jayla Ortiz, 23, of Lakewood, Ceasia Jefferson, 24, of Neptune Township, and a 17 year-old male from Lanoka Harbor died in the crash, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Tuesday.
Injured was front seat passenger Mylani Theibault, 18, Lakewood and Alexis Holloway, 23, of Berkeley Township, who was in the rear seat with the teen and Jefferson, Billhimer said.
Theibault remains in stable condition and Holloway is listed as critical, both at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Billhimer said.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare," Billhimer said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with these young men and women, their families and their friends.”
When police arrived at the crash scene about 2:20 a.m. Saturday they found that a 2008 Dodge truck and a 2009 Honda Accord had collided with enough force to split both vehicles in two, Billhimer said.
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According to an investigation by county and Lakewood detectives, the Accord, driven by Ortiz, was traveling east on Cedar Bridge Avenue near New Hampshire Avenue when it ran a red light and collided with the truck, Billhimer said.
The impact caused the truck to roll over and split in two as the Accord continued off the road and slammed into a metal traffic signal pole and broke in two, he said.
Ortiz and Jefferson were declared dead at the scene, Billhimer said. The 17-year-old male succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, he said.
The driver of the truck, Mathew Draheim, 56, of Lakewood, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries, Billhimer said.
Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or at kserrano@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Two of three killed and two seriously injured in Lakewood crash ID'd
