118 MPH Crash Claims Couple, Community Rallies Support
A young couple’s future plans were tragically cut short Friday night when their vehicle was struck by an unlicensed teen driver who authorities say was traveling at speeds of up to 118 mph. Kiley Armstrong, 21, and Evan Fiore, 23, lost their lives in the high-speed collision at the intersection of Routes 37 and 166 in Toms River, while two other passengers remain in critical condition.
The couple had been planning to marry “a few years down the line,” according to family members who now face the heartbreaking task of planning a joint funeral instead. The community has rapidly mobilized to support both families through their immense loss.
The Crash and Victims
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the crash occurred just before 11 p.m. on Friday when a white BMW driven by an unlicensed juvenile slammed into a Toyota Camry carrying four people. The impact killed Armstrong and Fiore instantly, while critically injuring Kiley’s twin sister Krista Armstrong and her boyfriend Ryan Chapman, 19.
Anthony Chapman, Ryan’s father, told Asbury Park Press that the two couples were returning home from a New Jersey Devils hockey game when the collision occurred. The injured victims were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where they remain in critical condition.
“The support you have shown the victims and families involved means the world to them, and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything,” wrote Cole Crozier, Chapman’s stepbrother, who has helped organize community support for the families. Crozier and Brady Bryson, a close friend of Fiore’s, established a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $130,000 as of Tuesday to help with funeral and medical expenses.
Police Pursuit Timeline
According to information obtained by Patch, the BMW was first spotted speeding eastbound over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge on Route 37 into Seaside Heights at approximately 10:45 p.m. Toms River police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but terminated their pursuit due to safety concerns when the driver refused to stop.
The BMW was later observed heading north on Route 35 toward Lavallette before turning around. Seaside Heights police reportedly clocked the vehicle traveling at 118 mph in a 35 mph zone on southbound Route 35. The driver then headed westbound on Route 37 across the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge back toward Toms River, where the fatal crash occurred less than 15 minutes after authorities first spotted the vehicle.
The teen driver was uninjured in the crash, while his two passengers were treated at local hospitals and released. The juvenile has been charged with multiple serious offenses, including two counts of aggravated manslaughter, four counts of aggravated assault causing bodily injury while eluding, and two counts of death by auto.
Families and Community Response
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of support from the Toms River community. Diana Fiore, Evan’s mother, posted a message on social media thanking people for their support while expressing her profound grief: “I’m not even sure how to put this into words but I’ll do my best. On Friday March 7th my son and his girlfriend were killed in a tragic event,” she wrote.
Jim Armstrong, uncle to the Armstrong twins, shared his family’s heartbreak in a social media post: “Our hearts are broken. If you have the time, please keep our families in your thoughts and prayers.” The Toms River North Marching Mariners booster club has also been raising funds for meals for the Armstrong family, as Krista was a member of the marching band and the twins’ father had previously served as the booster club treasurer.
The case has since been transferred to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. The juvenile driver, who remains unidentified due to his age, was being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center and was scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the case.
Legal Proceedings
The extensive charges against the juvenile driver include two counts of causing death while driving unlicensed, two counts of causing injury while driving unlicensed, aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to human life, eluding, and multiple counts of assault by auto.
Public reaction has been intense, with many community members expressing anger toward the driver and passengers of the BMW across social media platforms. Monmouth County authorities have declined to comment further on the case, citing the recent transfer and ongoing investigation.
As the legal process unfolds, the families of the victims continue to grapple with their immense loss and uncertainty about the future. The community fundraising effort, which can be found by searching “Tragic Loss Kylie and Evans Memorial” on GoFundMe, continues to grow as residents rally around those affected by this devastating crash.
