The Lakewood community was plunged into deep grief and mourning early Sunday morning upon receiving the tragic news of the petirah of Habachur Eli Shepansky, z”l, following a devastating car accident. He was 18 years old.

The horrific incident occurred in Hamilton, New Jersey. According to local reports, Eli, the son of Reb Moshe and Mrs. Leah Shepansky, ybl”c, had traveled to Philadelphia in the early hours of Sunday morning alongside a friend. The two bachurim were returning from a special chesed project on behalf of a mutual friend.

On their way back home to Lakewood, their vehicle was involved in a severe collision with a commercial truck.

Tragically, Eli passed away, and his friend sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized. The tzibbur is urgently requested to storm the heavens with tefillos for a refuah sheleimah for Mordechai Zelig ben Lima, b’soch shaar cholei Yisroel.

Dedicated askanim have been on the scene and are working tirelessly around the clock with the local authorities in Hamilton to ensure kavod hameis. They are handling all necessary arrangements to expedite the release of the niftar so that the levayah can take place without delay.