PRINCETON: Rabbi killed, 2 injured in crash

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   The former director of Princeton University’s Center for Jewish Life was killed and two others were seriously injured when an apparent speeding car struck two parked cars on Riverside Drive Thursday morning, authorities said.
   Rabbi James S. Diamond, 74, remembered as a pillar of the community, had just left a Talmud discussion group at the home of Robert Goldenberg, who lives across the street from Riverside Elementary School. Rabbi Diamond and Rabbi Robert Freedman, a former cantor at the Jewish Center in Princeton, were preparing to leave in a Toyota Prius parked on the northbound side of the street, authorities said.
   Around 9:40 a.m., Rabbi Diamond was getting into the car on the passenger side, when 20-year-old Princeton man Eric Maltz, driving south in a BMW, crashed into a Toyota Camry that was parked in front of the Prius, police said. Police said Mr. Maltz was going at an “excessive” speed on a street that has a posted 25 mph speed limit, although authorities said early indications show that drugs or alcohol were not involved.
   The force of the impact, police said, drove the Camry into the Prius, where Rabbi Freedman was sitting in the driver’s seat. The Prius traveled some 1,000 feet and struck a tree, while the Camry traveled the same distance, police said. Rabbi Diamond “was thrown from the area of impact,” police said in a statement.
   Police attempted life-saving techniques on Rabbi Diamond, who was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 10 a.m., police Capt. Nicholas K. Sutter said.
   Rabbi Freedman, 63, of Princeton, and Mr. Maltz, suffering severe injuries, were taken by Princeton First and Rescue Squad to Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton. An update on their conditions was not immediately available.
   Princeton police and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating, police said. Authorities said that so far, no charges had been brought against Mr. Maltz.
   Rabbi Diamond, who lived on Hamilton Avenue with his wife, Judy, started working at the Center for Jewish Life in 1995. He also taught at the university. He resigned as the director in 2003.
   Rabbi Anne Tucker, associate rabbi at the Jewish Center, recalled Rabbi Diamond as a “pillar of the community.” He had been a member of the Conservative congregation for many years. A funeral was expected to take place Sunday.
   Mr. Goldenberg, speaking from the front step of his home a few hours after the accident, said the Talmud study that morning had dealt with the topic of blessings.
   Princeton public schools are on spring break this week.
   ”Thankfully, it was not a school day,” said Ernesto Mazzucato, a Riverside Drive resident, as he stood from his driveway.