Young Actor From East Brunswick Dies In Car Crash In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A young actor from East Brunswick — who also served as a fitness trainer in Jersey City — was among three people who died in a two-car crash in Jersey City early Monday morning.

[UPDATE: The other driver in the crash has been charged, with police saying he was going in excess of 100 MPH; read more here.]

Dylan Weidenfeld, 26 was driving a Kia sedan that crashed with a BMW after midnight, prosecutors said.

Weidenfeld is a native of East Brunswick, where he participated in numerous dramatic productions.

"There aren’t words to describe how incredible of a person my little brother was," wrote his sister on Facebook on Monday night. "He never failed to make everyone smile."

"Such a kind, hilarious, and insanely talented soul who was just making a name for himself on the stage," wrote a friend.

F45 in Jersey City posted, "We lost a star today. It is with heavy hearts, and great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Coach Dylan. His smile, fun energy, and kindness are just some of the things that will be gravely missed."

Services for Weidenfeld were to be held in East Brunswick Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors are withholding the names of another male and female victim who died in the crash, pending notification of kin, they said.

The prosecutor's office said that a BMW SUV crashed head-on with the Kia driven by Weidenfeld, at approximately 12:45 a.m. on Paterson Plank Road, near Congress Street. The heavily traveled corner is next to the cliff overlooking Hoboken and beside the 9th Street Light Rail elevator.

The BMW was occupied by five people, prosecutors said.

A female backseat passenger in the BMW was pronounced dead at the scene, while a male backseat passenger was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said. Three other people were injured in the crash.

Prosecutors did not release the ages of the other two people who died. Their identities are being withheld pending next of kin notifications.

One of the inured backseat passengers, a 19-year-old woman, remains in critical condition at Jersey City Medical Center, prosecutors said.

The male driver of the BMW and the front seat female passenger, both 23, of Jersey City, suffered injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening.

The crash occurred at the spot where a young nurse lost her life in a head-on collision in 2019.

Residents of the area complained about the corner on Monday in an online neighborhood group, saying that people speed on the road and can't always see a driver around the corner. One commenter suggested adding speed bumps.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.