Woman Killed On Rt. 1 In Nor'easter Was Homeless, Living In Car

SOUTH BRUSNWICK, NJ — Ten months ago, Deborah Smick and her son George, were evicted from their North Brunswick apartment, forcing them to live in their car as the pandemic raged.

On Tuesday, things got worse. With the nor’easter fast approaching, Deborah, 68, and George needed to get their car fixed. Their Ford Explorer had broken down at the Wendy’s parking lot on Route 1, where she worked.

They called a tow truck, but the driver refused to drive them to the nearby service station, said George. They argued with the driver, and finally gave up.

Around 7 p.m., Deborah started to walk across Route 1.

“She started walking, I began calling out to her, but she couldn’t hear me,” said George, 47.

Just as Deborah reached the median strip, she was struck by a 2016 Honda CRV, he said.

“I saw it. The soul went out of my body. I was ready to throw myself in front of the other cars,” George said.

Passing vehicles stopped and tried to help, including a doctor and EMT. But Deborah was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.

Read More here: North Brunswick Woman Identified In Fatal South Brunswick Crash

It was yet another tragic moment in what has been a series of hardships for George and Deborah. But it was also a moment where George witnessed the goodness of others – particularly the police and local officials who stepped in to help.

Life before the pandemic

Deborah was a cancer survivor and a “single mother who was well-loved by her colleagues and customer,” said George. Deborah and George were inseparable.

Deborah loved putting together puzzles and playing games on her phone. George loves building radio control cars. “At first she wasn’t interested in building cars. But she would help me, and I showed her how to build them. Soon she got interested,” said George.

On March 2015 Deborah was diagnosed with cervical cancer and in July the same year she had a surgery, said George. “While she was recovering, I had a hernia surgery. And my mom, despite the pain and discomfort, was taking care of me,” he said.

They have family in West Virginia and would visit often. According to her obituary published on the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home website, Deborah also had family living in Toms River - Donald Smick, brother, and Gloria Smick. Deborah, said George, was well-loved by all nieces and nephews.

Deborah and George shared a close bond and the hardships they faced made them stronger, George said.

In February, the week of George’s birthday, when they were evicted from their apartment, Deborah and George began living in their Ford Explorer, parked overnight at a shopping center parking lot.

“We had a place to shower. Mom worked at Wendy’s on Route 1 and I work at the McDonald on Route. 18, East Brunswick. We were hoping to get a place soon,” said George.

Deborah and George are among 8,864 New Jerseyans homeless during the pandemic. With most of their possessions locked up in storage, they just had enough clothes with them in the Ford Pickup. But they braved through it, because they “had each other.”

“My mom was a cancer survivor; a single mother and we were homeless. She always encouraged me and said I was doing the best I can. And now, just like that, she’s gone,” said George.

A ray of hope amid tragedy

George was inconsolable after the accident. After watching his mother being thrown into the air and land on the pavement, he wanted to "throw myself in front of the other cars, but officers held me back.”

During the investigation, Traffic Officer Mike Leung and Det. Rick Delucia learned more about Deborah and George’s living situation.

They contacted social services and arranged for George to live at a local hotel for the next two weeks.

Delucia then went to the South Brunswick pantry, picked up food and toiletries and delivered it to George.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” said Deputy Chief James Ryan. “But amidst all this, there was a ray of hope. People stopped and helped. And there are people still helping George,” said Ryan.

George said he’s thankful to the Police Department and township for the help. But he misses his mother.

“Mom was always beside me when I was driving. After I got my pickup on Friday, I got in and started to cry,” he said.

Deborah’s funeral is scheduled for Monday, 2 p.m. at MJ Murphy Funeral Home.

George meanwhile is thinking about his future plans. “I may move to West Virginia, where most of my family lives, or may just continue living here,” he said.

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