Tishrei Crash Victim Flies Home

By COLlive reporter

One of the victims in the horrific car accident in Crown Heights on Rosh Hashana 5774 was released from the hospital and flew to her home in Israel.

The 20-year-old woman suffered from internal injuries after a white SUV collided with a car and jumped a curb, injuring 3 Lubavitchers celebrating the Jewish New Year outside 770 Eastern Parkway.

She was brought to Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and was immediately treated in the emergency room for the many fractures and internal bleeding she sustained.

Coming to her aid was Rabbi Avrohom Leider, Director of the Ahavas Chesed emergency assistance organization based in Crown Heights. After rushing over to the scene, he made contact with personnel in the hospital and found the woman’s uncle and aunt.

“I worked with both the hospital and the victims’ families throughout the situation,” he says. “We made sure they had the best services available to them, like top medical services, bikur cholim room and a private hospital room.”

During Sukkos, Rabbi Leider had a special sukkah built on hospital grounds and arranged for a U.S. visa entry for the victim’s mother and brother who came in from Israel to be at her side.

While she has a long way to recovery, Rabbi Leider says her advancement was a miracle in itself. “It was painful to see her mother watching her daughter on machines, in pain and not able to speak. Thank G-d, she has been getting better, little by little.”

A week ago, the doctors allowed her to board a plane to Israel where she will continue treatment towards a full recovery.

The same cannot be said for the other Israeli woman who was hit in the accident. “I lost my leg,” the 40-year-old was heard saying in Hebrew as she was rushed to the hospital by Hatzalah volunteers.

For her, it was the first time she left her 4 children in Israel to be able to travel with her husband to New York. While the victim and her husband are both trauma psychologists in Israel, nevertheless it was very difficult for Rabbi Leider to break the terrible news to the husband that his wife’s leg will be amputated.

“It was devastating,” says Rabbi Leider, “but it was amazing to see the bitachon of the woman. She was so positive all the time, it was so inspiring. I never witnessed such a bitachon in Hashem and the Rebbe from people who went through such a trauma.”

After hearing about the crash, Rabbi Leider rushed to the hospital where he serves as chaplain and was there to greet the injured and help attend to their needs.

After recovering from her surgery, the woman’s medical insurance paid for a private plane to take her home on Sunday, the second day of Chol Hamoed. She had the ambulance stop first at 770 before heading to the airport, where friends gathered to wish her farewell. She is now in rehab in the Tel Hashomer hospital in Israel.

With both back home and on their way to recovery, Rabbi Leider turns back to summarize what has been a busy month at his Chesed Center on Kingston Avenue over the holidays and Tishrei.

“I want to say thank you to Hatzalah for the work they did over Yom Tov. People have no idea the amount of work that they do, taking care of the community. I saw Dr. Eli Rosen called out of 770 numerous times to help people that were ill.”

In addition to medical services, Leider’s soup kitchen was open all day to offer snacks for guests who missed a meal or couldn’t afford a restaurant meal. There he also offered advice or help to people in need.

But he is asking the community for its financial support which will help him sustain his crucial work that he hopes people won’t be in need for.

To donate and support the work of the Chesed Center for our community, click here.