Families Identify 3 Killed, 1 Of 2 Injured In Lakewood Crash

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Family members have identified three people killed and one of the critically injured passengers in Saturday's early morning crash in Lakewood as the community tries to come to grips with the fatal crash.

Jayla M. Ortiz, 23, Ceasia Jefferson, and Dashaun Witter, 17, have been identified as those who were killed in the crash, and Alexis Holloway, 23, has been identified as one of two passengers who are hospitalized in critical condition.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has not identified any of the people involved in the crash that happened about 2:20 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Cedar Bridge Avenue.

Ortiz and Jefferson were Lakewood residents, according to their Facebook accounts. Witter was born in Lakewood and was a student at Lacey Township High School, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to assist his family with funeral expenses.

A candlelight vigil is planned for Saturday in Lakewood for Ortiz, whose funeral services are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16 and Tuesday, Oct. 17, according to D'Elia Funeral Home.

A candlelight vigil for Jefferson was set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at Park Village apartments in Asbury Park.

Holloway, a 2018 Central Regional High School graduate, remained in critical condition Monday afternoon but was breathing on her own, her family said. She is hospitalized at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she and the other passenger were taken after the crash.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said the preliminary investigation found the driver of the 2009 Honda Accord was driving east on Cedar Bridge Avenue and ran a red light at New Hampshire Avenue, hitting a Dodge truck. Both vehicles split in half — the truck from the impact of the Honda, the Honda after it hit a light pole.

The driver of the Dodge truck was treated for minor injuries, the prosecutor's office said.

Lakewood school district officials provided grief counselors at the high school on Monday, saying all of those in the Honda were former students in the district.

There will be additional measures during the rest of the week to help "students and staff have a safe and nurturing environment to express their emotions and find solace during this period of mourning," the district said. It welcomed "parents, guardians, and members of our community to also attend if you feel it would be beneficial. Please know that you are not alone, and we are here to support you in any way we can."

With reporting by Veronica Flesher