A devastating accident on Route 17 has left the Vishnitzer community in mourning after a horrific collision claimed the life of a beloved Yungerman, returning from a Vishnitzer Rebbeisha chasunah in Monsey. Sources tell YWN that R’ Mordachai Zafir Z”L, 54, and his 17-year-old son were traveling back to the Vishnitz (Gibbers) community in Kiamesha after attending the chasunah of the granddaughter of the Viznitzer Rebbe of Monsey and the grandson of the Viznitzer Rebbe of Kiamesha when tragedy struck. At approximately 1:45 AM, near exits 126/127, a wrong-way driver collided head-on with their vehicle in a fatal crash. R’ Mordachai Z”L was tragically niftar at the scene. His son sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a Garnet Medical Center in Middletown and later transferred to Westchester Medical Center, where he remains in serious but stable condition. The tzibur is urged to daven for his refuah sheleimah—his name for Tehillim is Kalman Yehoshua Ben Esther Malka Bracha. The driver of the other vehicle was also pronounced dead at the scene. New York State Police have launched a major investigation to determine how and why the second vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction, leading to this catastrophic crash. Chesed Shel Emes and Misaskim volunteers have been working tirelessly at the scene throughout the night, ensuring proper kavod hames for the niftar. Levaya details will be published once it becomes available to us. (VIDEO CREDIT – Rockland Video Productions) (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)