Lakewood, NJ – An 18-year-old township man was arrested Tuesday and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a death — Monday evening’s fatal hit-and-run collision that killed Shalom Werther, 17, of Lakewood.
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Paul Kulha, 18, of Essex Drive, Brick, was arrested Tuesday evening after authorities received information from the public about the vehicle that had left the scene, said Capt. John Mount of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities notified the Werther family about 9:30 p.m. that they had the driver in custody.
Police did not release information about the arrest of Kulha, who was charged and held in lieu of $50,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl.
Police said Werther was crossing Cedar Bridge Avenue near Melville Avenue at 7:48 p.m. Monday when he was struck by what police believed was a sedan-type car, Redington said.
Werther was transported to Kimball Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Redington said.
Authorities collected only a small amount of evidence from the scene, including pieces of the vehicle left behind, hoping to identify the vehicle type, Redington said.
Mount was at the house on Essex Drive in the Lake Riviera section of Brick where the car was being hoisted up onto a tow truck about 8:30 p.m. The gold Cadillac Seville had a broken headlight on the driver’s side and a broken windshield.
Services for the young man were held Tuesday, and the community is grief-stricken, said a neighbor of the Werther family.
“”He was a really fine, really fine young man,” said the neighbor, Phil Shapiro.
Shalom Werther was one of 11 sons in his family, and each one held a very special place in the heart of their mother, Shapiro said.
“”There really are no words to describe a tragedy like this,” he said. “”He was a very special young man who comes from an especially fine family.”
The Lakewood Police Traffic Safety Unit was assisted by Brick Police Traffic Safety Officers Sgt. Donald Ling and Officer Jay Lampiasi and Ocean County Prosecutor’s investigators Capt. John Mount and Detective Craig Ally.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Lakewood Police at 732-363-0200 or the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027. Press zero at either number for assistance.
Hope this guy sits behind bars for years he took a yids neshama
Unfortunately, this will not bring him back but at least something…!
Yes, he’ll sit behind bars for years. 2. Maybe 3. Unless he was DWI or it wasn’t his first offense. Also, odd how they were looking for a Black Nissan or Toyota & it ended up being a Gold Cadillac Seville.
thank God! may this at least give rabbi werther’s family at least some sort of comfort. I love you rabbi!
Does anyone knbow how they were able to ‘crack this case’… they didn’t have too much to go on.
This was an ACCIDENT, and two families are shattered. Yes, the driver exercised poor judgment in leaving the scene, but that doesn’t make him a horrible person.
He may have fled because he was scared of what happened.He probably had no intention of harming anyone. remember that there have been cases where a driver ran without knowing whàt had happened. A tragedy no matter whàt. Hamokom yenachem.
the poor kid may have “borrowed” the caddy from his parents as well and was scared of getting in trouble.
18 is still a kid even though they are technically adults.
if there is no DUI or malice and he expresses regret he definitely wont sit a day.
I remember a case when I was a kid 30 years ago and a kid was driving like a maniac and killed 2 people. he didnt sit a day.
good or bad,people who leave the scene have to go to jail.at least for running away and trying to get away with what they have done.he took a life of a young boy and has to take the responsibility,i will be praying for the soul of this young yid and the peace in the hearts of his family
please call JCP&L as a street light was out. they do not patrol and be reponsibile to check on their lights . their attitud eis unless someone calls it in – its not their problem. IT IS and now they may have caused the both the driver and the deceased to not see each other..
shalom was my cousins brother through marriage and i hope thas guy really feels remorse on what he did. I was by the levaya and the family was devastated. also shalom’s 13 year old brother was walking with him at the time of the accident and as im sure you realize he was very shaken up. I hope this was just an accident and nothing more, and although its a very great loss to the family still we have to understand it’s min hashamayim and hakol letova. baruch dayin emes
his hebrew name is shalom beneyahu ben shabsai tzvi
Close, but no.
His correct name is Shalom Benayahu ben Shabsi Shlomo.
What a terrible tragedy for both families. There isn’t a parent I know who doesn’t worry when their young teens are out in the car. They may be old enough to drive, but many are not responsible or mature enough to handle a terrible accident as this. My prayers are with both families. so terrible to loose a young man with his whole life ahead of him. G-d Bless.
First of all it is a terrible ACCIDENT bottom line. If the light was not working, if the boy was wearing all black, if he did not have a reflective belt on, if he was crossing in the middle of the road and not at a corner w/traffic lights. All of these things add up to it being an ACCIDENT. Yes it is serious and sad, the driver should not have left the scene but he did. That in itself does not say anything except bad judgement. I feel he did not do this intentionally, it was an ACCIDENT bottom line.