A terrible tragedy near Muncie: Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Deitch, 46, and his son-in-law Rabbi Shlomo Birnhack, 24, were killed this afternoon (local time) and nine passengers were injured in a fatal car accident when the van they were traveling in crashed into a tree.
The tragic accident occurred after 4:00 p.m. on New Hempstead Road, when the 15-seat van, which was transporting two families from the New Square housing estate on its way to a family wedding in New York, veered off the road - and crashed into a tree.
Large rescue forces, including 'Friends of Rockland', 'Rescue', firefighters and police forces quickly arrived at the scene and began rescue and recovery operations.
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Yossi Margarten, of Friends of Rockland, told VIN News that 11 people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The passengers were trapped in the vehicle and firefighters had to saw the vehicle open to free the trapped people.
???????? — INITIAL: Major accident with injuries on 500 New Hempstead Rd, New Hempstead, 7 people were trapped, Spring Hill EMS & Hatzoloh are on location. More info to follow. pic.twitter.com/pGQmoIJR0c
— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) June 15, 2020
Two of the vehicle's occupants, residents of New Square, were killed, and according to a report on the YWN website, it took nearly 45 minutes to extract both of them from the vehicle.
Nine other passengers were transferred to various hospitals, with injuries of varying degrees, including three reportedly in very serious condition.
A Haredim 10 reporter notes that according to reports, the wife of the slain Deutsch was critically injured. Other family members are suffering from crises, and some were rushed to emergency surgery.
It is currently unknown what caused the driver of the vehicle to veer off the road, and the police have opened an investigation.
Monsey: Multiple Injuries Reported In Serious Car Accident [VIDEOS] https://t.co/BVtwBOzUXg
— VosIzNeias (@VINNews) June 15, 2020
