BY DAVE BENJAMIN and MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writers
MANALAPAN — A Marlboro woman was killed and her husband and daughter were critically injured in a motor vehicle accident that occurred at 1:47 a.m. Monday.
The driver of the truck that struck a vehicle being driven by Harvey Lieber, 49, was later charged with vehicular homicide.
Police said Barbara Lieber, 52, and her daughter, Alyssa, 17, were passengers in a 1995 Chrysler Concorde which was being driven by Harvey Lieber. Their vehicle was turning left from Symmes Drive onto Route 9 north when it was struck by a tractor-trailer being driven by Michael Stephens, 51, of Chadbourne, N.C. Stephens was driving north on Route 9 and failed to stop for a red light, according to police.
The truck struck the Liebers’ vehicle on the passenger side. The Liebers’ vehicle then struck a GMC van being driven by Anthony Badillo, of Staten Island, N.Y. Badillo suffered minor injuries, according to police.
Manalapan police Capt. Louis Moreto said Barbara Lieber died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
Lieber was a teacher for the past 10 years at the Marlboro Jewish Center preschool. She taught 3-year-olds and was recalled with fondness and affection on Monday afternoon by Rene Kipnes, the director of the preschool.
“Barbara was an amazing person in terms of the children whose lives she touched. She had tremendous understanding of their needs and knew they needed a lot of tender loving care. She was a kind, sweet, incredible person,” Kipnes said.
Alyssa Lieber and Harvey Lieber were both transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. A hospital spokeswoman said Harvey Lieber and Alyssa Lieber were both listed in critical condition as of 2:30 p.m. Monday, the News Transcript’s press time.
Alyssa Lieber is a student at Marlboro High School, according to a spokeswoman for the Freehold Regional High School District.
The Liebers are also the parents of Jennifer, a junior at Penn State University.
Police said Stephens was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and two counts of assault by auto. Motor vehicle summonses were issued. Bail for Stephens had not been set as of noon Monday. Stephens was not injured in the accident, according to emergency personnel.
Responding to the scene of the accident were Manalapan police, the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad, MONOC paramedics, the Gordons Corner Fire Company and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team.
First aid squad Capt. Robert DeTota said Barbara was in the front passenger seat at the time of the accident. He said Alyssa , who was in the back seat, and Harvey were pinned in the vehicle.
“The Gordons Corner Fire Company did an outstanding job of extrication in a timely manner,” DeTota said. “I called for multiple helicopters from the Coast Guard and the state police. They weren’t able to send any helicopters due to the inclement weather.”
DeTota said Alyssa and Harvey were both unconscious and had serious injuries.
“This was one of the worst accidents that I’ve seen in my 12-year history” with the squad, he said.
The accident is being investigated by patrolmen Robert Pease, George Heitz and Ken Mikulik.