By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
MONROE — A 28-year-old Millstone woman died Tuesday night after her motorcycle collided with another vehicle on Perrineville Road, according to police.
Rebecca Malter, 28, of Millstone was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick following the 8 p.m. crash.
According to police, Ms. Malter was driving her 2002 Ducati motorcycle south on Perrineville Road when she collided with a northbound Kia Optima driven by Fiorella Lahara, 26, of Monroe.
The impact ejected Ms. Malter from the motorcycle, which was then struck by a southbound Hyundai Sonata operated by Robert Kaita, 60, of Manalapan, police said.
The two other drivers were not injured.
Officer Sergeis Jangols of the Monroe Township Traffic Safety Division is conducting an investigation into the accident.
Ms. Malter was a 2004 graduate of Allentown High School and attended Mercer County Community College before going to work as a veterinary technician, according to her Facebook page.
"I would just express my sincerest sympathy to the family for this tragic loss," said Allentown High School Principal Constance DeNicola Embley. "Rebecca was a smart, lovely young woman."
Co-workers at two local animal hospitals where Ms. Malter worked during the last several years were saddened and shaken from the news of her death.
"She was the kindest person I knew," an emotional Dr. Laura Collins of HomeCare Veterinary Services in Rocky Hill said Wednesday. "She was very kind and compassionate to the animals and the people."
Dr. Collins said that Ms. Malter worked with her at the facility for the last year and for several years prior to that at the Cranbury Animal Hospital.
"It is a great loss," Dr. Collins said. "She was like a surrogate daughter to me."
Dr. Collins said that Ms. Malter loved camping, nature and riding her motorcycle.
"She was very safety conscious (while riding), and very mature for her age," Dr. Collins said. "I can’t imagine anyone not say a loving word about her."
Former colleagues in Cranbury amplified the sense of loss and remembered Ms. Malter as "positive," "loving," and always smiling.
"She had a smile that could light up a room, and a contagious laugh that I will always remember," said former Cranbury Animal Hospital employee Diana Ornberg, 29, of Cranbury. "She was a loyal and supportive friend who always put others before herself, including animals."
A post by family members on her Facebook page Wednesday night said that there would be public calling hours for Ms. Malter on Sept. 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 South Main Street in Allentown, with a "sharing" session starting immediately after.
The post also asked drivers to be mindful of motorcycles on the road.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Jangols at (732) 521-0222, extension 260.
