Jackson Twp, NJ — May 23, 2025, Two people were killed and three were wounded in a car accident around 4:39 A.M. on North Hope Chapel Rd.

According to official statements, a vehicle with five occupants was traveling in the area of North Hope Chapel Road and New Central Avenue when it struck a deer that had entered the road. The vehicle then struck a tree before catching fire.

When first responders arrived on the scene they extricated two of the occupants, and two others were pronounced deceased and later identified as Dovid Handler and Chaim Beril, The fifth occupant exited the vehicle before EMS arrived, and they along with the two extricated occupants were taken to the hospital in critical condition, Their identities have not been released.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a crash like this, I think most people have plenty of questions. However, some questions tend to be overlooked by crash investigators. When a vehicle hits a deer, then a tree, and ultimately catches fire, the initial assumption is usually that it was just a matter of bad luck. But in my experience, serious crashes involving wildlife often expose bigger issues—both in how vehicles are built and how roads are managed.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Hitting a deer can happen in an instant, but what happens next often depends on more than just the animal. Investigators should examine the roadway for lighting, signage, and whether fencing or vegetation management could have played a role in keeping wildlife away from the road. Was this a known crossing area? Were there skid marks or any sign that the driver tried to avoid the deer? These are all clues that help build out the timeline. And once the vehicle struck the tree, were there barriers or clear zones that might have changed the outcome if designed differently? Without a comprehensive investigation of the roadway and environment, important safety gaps may go unnoticed.

Next, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash or worsened the outcome?
A collision with a deer doesn’t usually lead to a full vehicle fire unless something else goes wrong. That’s why it’s critical to investigate whether a fuel system failure or electrical issue contributed to the fire. In high-speed impacts, components can rupture, but modern vehicles are supposed to be designed to reduce the risk of fire. Additionally, the force of the crash raises questions about the vehicle’s structural integrity. Was it designed to absorb that kind of impact? Did airbags deploy properly? And why were so many people critically injured or killed—was it just the force of the crash, or did seatbelt or safety system failures make things worse?

Finally, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
With a crash involving multiple occupants and a post-impact fire, the vehicle’s electronic control module holds key information. This includes speed, braking, throttle input, steering data, and seatbelt usage. It can also show whether safety systems like stability control or pre-collision warnings were active. In crashes that escalate so quickly, this data is often the only way to piece together what happened in the moments before and after impact. Given the fire, preserving this information early is critical, as heat can destroy electronic memory.

Crashes involving wildlife may start with something unpredictable—but how they end often depends on road design, vehicle systems, and the chain of responses that follow. That’s why it's so important to look beyond the surface and make sure every factor is examined with care.

Key Takeaways:

• Road design and wildlife management practices should be reviewed after animal-involved crashes.
• Fire after impact may point to fuel system or electrical issues and should be investigated thoroughly.
• Electronic control module data can clarify the vehicle’s speed, occupant safety system status, and driver actions.