Sandy Eller, VIN News
New York – The entire Waterbury community, including those who live in the community, those enrolled at the yeshiva and former talmidim of Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel are reeling in shock and disbelief following the tragic crash last night that took the lives of two high school students and thousands are expected to attend the funerals that will take place this afternoon in Borough Park.
Daniel King, 15, and Eli Schonbrun, 16, both residents of the East 30’s in Flatbush, were pronounced dead at the scene following the early morning rollover of a van that was carrying eleven bochurim from both the high school and the beis medrash back to the yeshiva. The boys were traveling on I-84 in a 1998 Ford Club Wagon, a vehicle notorious for rollovers, and Connecticut State Police are investigating the accident.
The levaya for Eli Schonbrun will take place 2 PM this afternoon at Shomrei Hachomos, located 4218 Fort Hamilton Parkway at the corner of 43rd Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway. The levaya for Dani King is currently scheduled for 3:15 PM at Shomrei Hadas, 3803 14th Avenue. Those times are subject to change as the bodies of the two victims have yet to be released.
“We are in a state of shock and mourning,” Rabbi Shalom Siegfried, Vice President of Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel told VIN News. “We have the families and everyone in our tefillos and we hope to be able to move forward.”
Rabbi Siegfried confirmed that the driver of the van, was a bochur in the yeshiva and unconfirmed reports have his age as 22 years old. Chai Lifeline has been brought in to provide support and counseling to the bochurim at the yeshiva.
This is the second time that a car crash has claimed the life of a bochur in the Waterbury yeshiva. Shaya Twerski was killed in March 2003 and a shtender bearing his name remains in the yeshiva.
“This is a trauma, every mother’s worst nightmare,” said the mother of a former talmid.
i was there roomate for a year i cnt get over it i miss them so muchh
a day hasnt gone by since we lost dani and eli A”H i miss them so much! but baruch hashem we have grown and continue to grow to heights we have never imagined because of this. What we are doing to grow is what eli and dani A”H want us to do
belle harbor will never forget eli
Hashem told the Malachi Hamoves not to worry because no one will ever blame him, it is interesting to see how true this is when reading people’s comments. People this could not be prevented, the Malachi Hamoves took these sweet boys.
ADDD MOSAI!! PLEASE HASHEM ENOUGH SUFFERING!
his mother- was a lerman, her maiden name was Greenberg- Rabbi Meir Greenberg ah” daughter.
What is the connection of the Lerman family to this tragedy, haShem y’racheim
I recall a similar tragedy a number of years ago with a van from a boys camp in the summer time. It was later found that many doorposts at camp were missing mezuzohs. as well, many years ago a group of school children on a camping trip in Eretz Yisroel were ambushed and many children died. again there, the Rebbe actually said “if they will check the building they were staying in it will be found to be missing Mezuzohs. Perhaps, and especially since this is not the first incident at this Yeshivah thery should check their Mezuzohs.
This story is a horrible tragedy. It should have never happened! But can we learn from it? To be certain, an accident can occur with any driver at the wheel. However, without passing any judgment whatsoever on the particular driver of this vehicle, perhaps now is the time to declare once-and-for-all that 22-year-olds (i.e. young drivers) are not the best candidates for acting as a chauffeur for other people?? That all parents / mosdos / yeshivas / camps should listen-up and be more responsible about whom they entrust their charges to? Too many of such stories keeping happening – of… Read more »
Theyvwere both good friends and neighbors I. Love you guys you will always be remebered
to #16. Avi King is the boys uncle.
daniel king’s father is yaakov king brother of avi king. the family is originally from tennessee
BD”E
we want moshiach now
So sad
Does anyone know the name of Daniel King’s father? I went to yeshiva with a bochur Avi King from Tennesse. I was wondering if they are related.
Boruch Dayan Ha-emes
We need Moshiach now!!!
God have mercy on your children 2religios children pure karbonos
Eli was in my class.
המקום ינחם אתכם בשער אבלי ציון וירושלים
Hashem please have Rachmanus on your Yiddishe Kinderlach and Bring Moshiach Now! Rochel Imainu cry for us again…If you raise your sweet voice now as then…In your Zechus Veshau Bonim Legvulom!
Eli was a Grandson of the shliach Rabbi Meir Greenberg of Paterson NJ.
This boy was a special bocher, condolences to the Greenberg, Lerman, and Schonbron family.
Why couldn’t it have been 2,054 convicted Palestinian terrorists instead.
BORUCH DAYAN HOEMES
🙁 how sad! Two helileghe Yidden!
Ad Mosai?
Moshiach NOW!
Very sorry to hear the terrible and painful news.
“Ha’makom yenahem etkhem betokh she’ar avelei Tziyonvi’Yerushalayim.”
what a tragedy. may the families find nechama and the strength to bear this
When a yiddish kind is lost the pain is felt throughout our nation. We truly need Moshiach!!! BDE
umacha hashem dima meal kol ponim!!! Ad Mosai Ad Mosai Ad Mosai?!?!
hashem yerachem!! Baruch dayan haemes. Dont know them but I truly feel the pain.