Toms River Woman Mourned As Fatal Fire Ruled An Accident

TOMS RIVER, NJ — As grief continues to ripple through two communities following the death of a beloved school librarian and longtime friend, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced the house fire that claimed the life of a Toms River woman on Friday night has been ruled accidental.

Sara Goodwin Trahey, 33, who was a media specialist at Ella G. Clarke Elementary School in Lakewood and a beloved member of the Toms River community, died in the fire, family and friends and the Lakewood school district confirmed Saturday.

Her husband and three children were able to escape the fire, but efforts by police and firefighters to rescue her were unsuccessful. One Toms River police office suffered smoke inhalation and was hospitalized overnight for treatment, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Billhimer on Monday said the cause of the fire has been ruled accidental. He did not provide details of where it started in the home on 15th Street or how it started. The fast-moving fire was fueled by strong winds Friday night and completely destroyed the Traheys' home. Four neighboring homes were damaged as well, Billhimer said.

He said an autopsy conducted Sunday found Trahey died of smoke inhalation and fire-related injuries.

"Although the victim’s identity has been reported by several media outlets and the Lakewood Board of Education, we are in the process of confirming same through medical records," Billhimer said. "Please keep in mind what this family is going through at this time. This is a tragedy that no family should ever have to deal with."

Lakewood Schools Superintendent Laura Winters on Saturday said Trahey was "an outstanding educator who cared very deeply about the success and well-being of each and every one of her students."

The district had crisis counselors available on Monday for students and staff, and Lakewood school board attorney Michael Inzelbuch said they would remain available all week.

In Toms River, friends of the family expressed shock over Trahey's death. At Silver Bay Elementary School, where the older children are students, Principal Michael DeVita and Courtney Norcross, supervisor of instruction, announced a gift card drive is underway, and that proceeds from a pasta night scheduled for Feb. 25 will go to the family.

Grief counselors also were being made available at Silver Bay on Monday for students and staff, DeVita said.

A GoFundme campaign started on Saturday by Amy Corbet-Elsbree for the Trahey family had raised more than $76,000 by 11 a.m. Monday. (Those wishing to donate to the GoFundme can access it here.)

"Sara was loved and respected in the community, and her death has left a hole in our hearts and lives," Corbet-Elsbree wrote on the campaign. Funds beyond those used to pay for Trahey's funeral and expenses will be used to set up a college fund for her three children, ages 2, 7, and 9, Corbet-Elsbree wrote.

Trahey, who was called "Goody" by longtime friends based on her maiden name, grew up in Toms River and played soccer and basketball. She was being remembered by old friends and newer ones as fierce and loving.

"(She) was always optimistic, put a smile on everyone's face and a team player. She saw the good in everything," one friend wrote in sharing the GoFundme campaign in a public post on Facebook. "This star is shining bright above us all. Miss you Goody. Shine bright and fly high angel."

"I will always remember the light, smile, and kindness Sara brought with her everywhere," Lucille Must wrote on the GoFundme. "Lucky to have grown up with her down the street. Sending love and prayers to all, especially her beautiful children."

Trahey was a defender on the Toms River South girls soccer team that won back-to-back NJSIAA Group III championships in 2001 and 2002. The 2002 team is scheduled to be inducted into the Toms River Regional Schools' Athletic Hall of Fame in May.

"In May we were supposed to be celebrating being inducted into the TR Hall of Fame, but that’s going to be really hard to do without you there with us," wrote Amanda Leissing, one of Trahey's teammates on that 2002 team. "You were always the ultimate team player. The biggest motivator. Your smile would light up any room you walked into. Still can’t believe this happened."

"We lost touch over the years but we shared so many great memories in middle school," wrote Nicolette Lee, who shared the GoFundme wrote. "Basketball would not have been the same without you. You made us all laugh to no end but you had the fiercest attitude on the court. Even though we were the same age, we all looked up to you. You were a leader. May god be with your husband, children, and family. This is unimaginable and I pray for everyone who loves you."

Billhimer said the house was fully engulfed in flames when police and firefighters arrived. Strong winds that caused power outages across Toms River on Friday evening made battling the fire more challenging, the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company said in a post on its Facebook page.

"Not all days can be good days. We were dispatched to a late night fire and despite all of our best efforts one young mother didn't make it out," the fire company post said. "Our dispatchers, TRPD, Silverton EMS, Toms River CSO and our ladies auxiliary worked hard in a cold windy night with the help of many others. We battled flames and extreme weather conditions in a courageous and valiant effort."

"This is a tragic day for the Silverton Fire Company and the Silverton section of Toms River Township. Our hearts are heavy this evening for this loss and we can't begin to imagine how devastated this family is," the post said.

The fire was investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Detective Bureau, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

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