Three Siblings are Tragically Killed in Accident on Atlantic City Expressway

Hammonton Township, New Jersey (December 27th, 2021) – Two New Hampshire brothers and their younger teenage sister were tragically killed when their vehicle collided into a toll booth and burst into flames in New Jersey. The single-vehicle accident also left a 12-year-old girl, also a sister of the deceased victims, and a toll booth attendant injured.

The accident happened just after 9 p.m. on Sunday. According to New Jersey State Police, the accident happened along the eastbound lanes of Atlantic City Expressway at the Egg Harbor Toll Plaza.

The person driving the vehicle has been identified as 31-year-old “Tony” Reachthon Khiev who died in the accident. The vehicle’s front-seat passenger has been identified as 27-year-old “Johnny” Reachsieh Khiev who was also pronounced dead at the scene. Both brothers were residents of Manchester, New Hampshire.

The third deceased victim has been identified as 14-year-old “Keo” Keotepie Khiev, a resident of Atlantic City and student at Atlantic City High School. The 14-year-old was traveling in the rear seat of the vehicle along with her 12-year-old sister who was the sole survivor of the accident. She and a toll plaza attendant were hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries.

According to an officer, the vehicle struck a tollbooth and immediately became fully engulfed in flames. A witness to the crash described the accident as being “horrific” as it appeared that the vehicle ran right into the booth at full speed and was immediately set ablaze.

A Good Samaritan is being credited with helping the 12-year-old girl get away from the fire. He has been identified as Wil Del Valle, a local pastor. He, along with his wife, was traveling on the westbound side of the expressway when he witnessed the accident.

He encouraged the young girl to move away from the burning car and toward him as she repeatedly told him that her siblings were still in the burning vehicle. Mr. Del Valle states that he saw the car explode several times.

The identity of the toll booth attendant has not been released by authorities. The tragic accident remains under police investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information regarding this case is being asked to contact the New Jersey State Police.

A vast majority of people will fail to recognize that single-vehicle accidents are common types of traffic accidents and they tend to be incredibly dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Traffic Administration, almost 50 percent of all traffic accidents are single-vehicle accidents, and understanding the common causes of these accidents can help prevent them from happening.

Single-vehicle accidents most frequently occur at night or when there are low-light conditions on the road. Motorists are routinely encouraged to use extra precaution when driving under low-light conditions. Sadly, however, there are many dangerous situations that can arise that are beyond the driver’s control. For instance, when there is insufficient lighting in an area of the road that can be particularly dangerous, the driver can have a difficult time seeing the road ahead, including obstructions on the road.

In addition to low-light conditions, single-vehicle accidents are also frequently caused as a result of vehicle design or vehicle part defects. Even though vehicles undergo extensive inspection when being assembled, errors can occur in the assembly line. A few of the most common vehicle parts that can be flawed and may result in single-vehicle accidents include fuel pumps, braking systems, steering components, and tires. Aside from defective individual vehicle components, the vehicle can also be flawed in its design. When a vehicle’s design is defective, the defect can make it so that the vehicle is unreasonably and inherently dangerous. Vehicle parts and vehicle design defects are detrimental to the safety of the consumer and vehicle manufacturers should be held accountable whenever their negligence leads to an accident.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, most single-vehicle accidents happen on portions of the road that are curved as opposed to straight roadways. This makes the design and layout of the road incredibly important as it is said that over 90 percent of all accidents happen on curved roads.

It is important to note that not all single-vehicle accidents are caused as a result of environmental factors or vehicle defects. In fact, many single-vehicle accidents are caused by other drivers. Although there would be no collision between the vehicles in this scenario, the other motorist can be held accountable when his or her negligence caused the other driver to lose control of his or her car. Common causes of these accidents include, but are not limited to drug use, alcohol consumption, speeding, road rage, and driver distraction.

It may be surprising for many people to learn that single-vehicle car accidents are common across the country. Regrettably, these types of vehicle accidents are not only common, but they are also extremely dangerous. If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a serious single-vehicle car accident, you should know that there may be an opportunity to obtain supplemental compensation.

In the State of New Jersey, every injured car accident victim must first seek compensation through their own insurance for their injuries. This is in accordance with the state’s required Personal Injury Protection coverage. Depending on the facts of the individual case, however, additional compensation can be obtained by filing a claim against the party responsible for causing the accident. While some single-vehicle accidents can be caused by factors involving the injured driver, many of these types of accidents can be caused by outside factors, including other drivers, private companies, and vehicle manufacturers.

The personal injury attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. can help you make sure that you are properly and fully compensated for your losses and injuries after a car accident. The dedicated attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. will ensure your case is thoroughly reviewed and all responsible parties are held accountable for their reckless or negligent actions.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. consider calling the law firm today at (609) 240-0040 or complete the confidential online contact form here. The law firm will review your claim, determine liability, and advocate on your behalf as an insured car accident victim.