Tragic Lakewood Crash Claims Third Yeshiva Student, Rafael Fayam

A devastating car accident on Friday morning has left the ultra-Orthodox community in Lakewood reeling, with the death toll rising to three yeshiva students and two others injured, one critically.

The tragedy unfolded when a Toyota Sienna minivan carrying five young students veered off Hope Chapel Road after striking a deer, crashed into a tree, and burst into flames.

According to initial reports, the accident occurred between Clearstream and New Central streets when the deer darted onto the road, causing the driver to lose control. A passerby discovered the vehicle engulfed in flames and alerted emergency services. Fire crews, ambulances, and Hatzolah volunteers rushed to the scene, managing to rescue some passengers, but two students, David Yitzchak Handler and Chaim Zelig Berl, were pronounced dead on-site.

A third student, Rafael Faham, was critically injured and evacuated to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite over 18 hours in intensive care, Faham succumbed to his injuries just before Shabbat. The two remaining students were also hospitalized; one, Meir Moshe Aharon ben Devorah Naomi, remains in critical condition, while the other is stable. The community continues to pray for their recovery.

Handler’s funeral was held Friday at 5:00 PM at the Lakewood Funeral Home (613 Ramsey Street), and Berl’s took place at 4:15 PM at Beit Mordechai Midrash (1455 Heathwood Street). Both were laid to rest in Lakewood Cemetery. Faham’s passing was announced yesterday (Saturday).

Local police are investigating the incident, with preliminary findings suggesting the deer’s sudden appearance caused the crash, and no criminal activity is suspected.

The Lakewood community, devastated by the loss, held prayers throughout Shabbat for the injured.