On the morning of Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the quiet community of Lakewood, New Jersey, was struck by heartbreaking news. A young man, 19‑year‑old Elchonon Fasten z”l, lost his life in a tragic single‑vehicle accident on the southbound lanes of the Garden State Parkway near Exit 120 in Old Bridge.
Shortly before 4:30 a.m., State Police responded to the crash scene. They found the Honda SUV driven by Fasten had veered off the roadway to the left, rammed into multiple trees and then ignited in flames. Fasten was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation remains open, with authorities seeking to determine how and why the vehicle left the road.
Friends and neighbors in Lakewood described him as a dedicated yeshiva student, warmly involved in community life, and destined for great things before this sudden loss. The word “bachur”, often used within his community, reflects the young, promising stage of his life—one cut far too short.
He was believed to be returning to Lakewood from Boro Park, Brooklyn, at the time of the crash. His car’s path that morning turned fatal within minutes, leaving a ripple of grief that moved far beyond the roadside where the accident occurred.
In line with his community’s customs, the levaya (funeral gathering) took place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at 1206 Hickory Street in Toms River, with the kevurah (burial) following in the Belzer section of Har Shalom Bais Hachaim in Airmont. These arrangements reflect his family’s rooted ties to the chasidic community and the deep respect held for him.
For those left behind, there are no simple words. Parents, siblings, friends, classmates—each stunned, each coping in their own way with the void. The crash prompts painful questions: how a young life with so much ahead can end in an instant, how routines turn dangerous in a flash, and how a community comes together when tragedy strikes.
As the investigation continues and traffic safety reminders are revisited across communities, many will remember Elchonon not only for the manner of his passing but for the promise he carried. May his memory be a blessing.
