East Brunswick, NJ – UPDATE: Jewish Community Plunged Into Mourning As Shul Members Killed, Three Others Seriously Hurt

East Brunswick, NJ – Shock and disbelief have engulfed the Jewish community of East Brunswick following the tragic deaths of two beloved community members yesterday, as reported by VIN News. The deaths occurred just moments after being announced in Shul as this year’s honorees at the Young Israel of East Brunswick’s annual dinner.

Ari and Sari Horowitz, both 51, were both killed Shabbos afternoon while walking home from Shul just before 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Dunhams Corner Road and Hardenburg Lane.

The Horowitz’s were killed on impact after the 49 year old driver of a 1998 Toyota Avalon lost control of her vehicle, which jumped the curb, striking and severing a utility pole before hitting five pedestrians and a metal gate in front of a local school. Eye witnesses to the accident said that the driver, who appeared to be speeding, lost control of her car when her dog jumped onto her lap. Ari Horowitz was thrown approximately fifty feet by the impact of the collision and it took a crew with cherry pickers almost an hour to locate the body of Sari Horowitz who had been thrown in the opposite direction.

The Horowitz’s were beloved community members, the parents of two adult children and had two grandchildren who live in Israel. Ari Horowitz, a past president of the Young Israel of East Brunswick, was an insurance agent for Allstate Insurance in Morganville, New Jersey. Sari Horowitz was a homemaker who in later years made frequent trips to Israel to spend time with her son in law, daughter and two small granddaughters. Several community members who were asked to speak about the Horowitz’s declined to comment, saying they were too devastated by the horrific accident.

The levaya for the Horowitz’s will take place today at 1 PM at the Young Israel of East Brunswick, 193 Dunham Corners Road, in East Brunswick and plans are currently being made for kevura in Israel after Rosh Hashana.

Three others who were injured in the crash and the driver were all transported to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in East Brunswick. 29 year old Ami Horowitz who was visiting his parents for the holidays and was walking with them at the time of the accident, sustained a broken collarbone, elbow and ankle. Another couple walking with the Horowitz’s was also injured, with 52 year old Harris Bram was listed last night in stable but critical condition and his 50 year old wife, Hadar, listed in serious but stable condition. The driver of the car is listed in stable condition.

Members of the Young Israel gathered last night in the Shul to say Tehillim for those who were injured and are urging the public to daven for a refuah sheleima for Amiyad Nisim ben Sara Fruma, Yerachmiel Natan ben Leba and Hadar Yocheved bas Chaya Sara.

According to reports on ABC News, three pedestrians were struck on the same stretch of road eighteen months ago and area residents have been asking for more traffic lights to be installed in order to slow down the speed of traffic in the area.

Both East Brunswick police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office are currently investigating the accident and were unavailable for comment.